Laser scanner module having integral interface with hand-held data capture terminal proximity and label sensing, and enhanced sensitivity and power efficiency

ABSTRACT

A portable, hand-held data processing assembly of modular structure includes a base unit with a keyboard and a display screen. An indicia reader module is housed in a housing shell which is attachable to the base unit. The indicia reader module can contain a reflected light indicia reader for non-contact essentially instantaneous reading of bar codes of the like disposed in a spaced, non-contacting relationship to the assembly. The indicia reader module can also include a processor. The base can include a light source. Additionally, the base unit can include a battery for powering the hand-held data processing assembly. A data collection and communications module can include a stacked arrangement of a communications interface main circuit board, a radio and a laser scanner assembly which are housed in a housing shell attachable to the base unit. In this arrangement, the radio is mounted in spaced relationship to one side of the main circuit board, while the laser scanner assembly is mounted to the other side of the main circuit board. A support frame and a plurality of ground planes in the sandwiched main circuit board and a routing circuit board form an RF cage for shielding RF interference which may be generated by the radio. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the operational power consumption requirements of laser bar code scanners by analyzing reflected laser light in order to determine the presence of optically readable information sets.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

a. Claiming Benefit Under 35 U.S.C. 120

The present application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/215,115, filedMar. 17, 1994 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.07/987,574, filed Dec. 8, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,053, issued May17, 1994, which is a continuation application of Ser. No. 07/674,756,filed Mar. 25, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part ofPCT application PCT/US90/03282, filed Jun. 7, 1990, which entered theU.S. national stage as Ser. No. 07/777,393 with a filing date of Dec. 6,1991 and an effective date of Jan. 7, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,141,issued Apr. 25, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of both Ser. No.07/364,902, filed Jun. 8, 1989, now abandoned, and Ser. No. 07/364,594filed Jun. 7, 1989, now abandoned.

Ser. No. 08/215,115 is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 07/965,983, filed Oct. 23, 1992, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/719,731, filed Jun. 24, 1991, nowabandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/441,007, filedNov. 21, 1989, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser.No. 06/905,779, filed Sep. 10, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,882,476, issuedNov. 21, 1989. The disclosure of these applications are incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety, including appendices anddrawings.

Ser. No. 08/215,115 is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 07/960,520, filed Oct. 13, 1992, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/912,917, filed Jul. 13,1992, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.07/881,096, filed May 11, 1992, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/820,070, filed Jan. 10, 1992, nowabandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/786,802, filedNov. 5, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.07/777,691, filed Oct. 10, 1991, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/735,610, filed Jul. 23, 1991, nowabandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/719,731, filedJun. 24, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser.No. 07/674,756, filed Mar. 25, 1991, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/660,615, filed Feb. 25, 1991, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,218,187, issued Jun. 8, 1993, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/633,500, filed Dec. 26, 1990, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,202,817, issued Apr. 13, 1993, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/561,994, filed Jul. 31, 1990, nowabandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/558,895, filedJul. 25, 1990, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser.No. 07/426,135, filed Oct. 24, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,218,188 issuedJun. 8, 1993, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/347,849,filed May 3, 1989, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 07/347,602, filed May 3, 1989, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/345,200, filed Apr. 28, 1989, nowabandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/305,302, filedJan. 31, 1989, now abandoned.

Finally, the present application, is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.08/040,313, filed Mar. 29, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,947, issuedNov. 21, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/451,322,filed Dec. 15, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,614, issued Jul. 13, 1993,which is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 07/143,921,filed Jan. 14, 1988, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-partapplication of Ser. No. 06/897,547, filed Aug. 15, 1986, now abandoned,and the said application Ser. No. 08/040,313 is further acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/947,036, filed Sep. 16, 1992, nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,308,966, issued May 3, 1994, which is a continuation ofSer. No. 07/875,791, filed Apr. 27, 1992, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/422,052, filed Oct. 16, 1989, nowabandoned, which is a division of Ser. No. 06/894,689, filed Aug. 8,1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,949, issued Oct. 31, 1989.

b. Incorporation by Reference

The following related commonly owned patent applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety, including appendicesand drawings:

    ______________________________________                                        Inventor(s)                                                                             Ser. No.  Filing Date                                                                             Pat. No.                                                                              lssue Date                              ______________________________________                                        Miller, et al.                                                                          07/136,097                                                                              12/21/87                                                  Danielson, et al.                                                                       07/143,921                                                                              01/14/88                                                  Koenck    07/238,701                                                                              08/31/88  5,019,699                                                                             05/28/91                                Main, et al                                                                             07/321,932                                                                              03/09/89                                                  (for published version of 07/321,932, see continuation disclosure,            identified by:                                                                Main, et al.                                                                            07/966,907                                                                              10/26/92  5,216,233                                                                             06/01/93)                               Hanson, et al.                                                                          07/346,771                                                                              05/02/89                                                  Hanson, et al.                                                                          07/347,298                                                                              05/02/89                                                  Danielson, et al.                                                                       07/364,902                                                                              06/08/89                                                  (for application including the 07/364,902 disclosure, see:                    Danielson, et al.                                                                       07/777,393                                                                              01/07/92  issue fee paid)                                 Chadima, et al.                                                                         07/339,953                                                                              04/18/89  4,894,523                                                                             01/16/90                                Miller, et al.                                                                          07/347,602                                                                              05/03/89                                                  (for published version of 07/347,602, see continuation disclosure,            identified by:                                                                Miller, et al.                                                                          08/046,048                                                                              04/12/93  5,331,580                                                                             07/19/94)                               Danielson, et al.                                                                       07/422,052                                                                              10/16/89                                                  Koenck, et al.                                                                          07/467,096                                                                              01/18/90  5,052,020                                                                             09/24/91                                Danielson, et al.                                                                       07/626,711                                                                              12/12/90                                                  Koenck, et al.                                                                          07/660,615                                                                              02/25/91  5,218,187                                                                             06/08/93                                Koenck, et al.                                                                          07/987,574                                                                              12/08/92  5,313,053                                                                             05/17/94                                Koenck, et al.                                                                          08/215,115                                                                              03/17/94                                                  ______________________________________                                    

Further, the following related commonly owned international patentapplications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety:______________________________________ Inter- Internationalnational International International Application Filing PublicationPublicationInventor(s) Number Date NumberDate______________________________________Koenck, U.S. 90/03282 06/07/90WO90/16033 12/27/90et al.Koenck, U.S. 91/00435 01/18/91 WO91/1106507/25/91et al.______________________________________

The entire disclosures of the foregoing publications are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pocket size computer processor system means,and particularly to a plural module computer processor system capable ofincorporating various data entry peripheral devices and of coupling withvarious data storage and data transmission devices while yet beingsuitable to be carried on the person of an individual user throughout aworking day.

A long-standing problem in the hand-held computer field has been toprovide a compact and efficient system for data capture while yetachieving low production cost. It is conceived that a breakthrough canbe realized by an optimum plural module system configuration.

In another aspect, the invention relates to novel terminal means forassociation with information cards and is particularly concerned withsuch terminal means for use by an individual user in communication withanother computer system. There are many circumstances for example wherean individual may desire to carry out transactions with a centralcomputer processing station. In one example, a racing establishment suchas a horse racing organization may desire to enable individual membershaving accounts with the organization to place bets from variouslocations such as home or office. In such a circumstance, it would behighly advantageous if the individual could communicate directly with acentral computer system placing with the system all the informationconcerning a bet, and receive from the computer system essentiallyinstantaneous information as to whether such a bet has been accepted.Another example relates to food service functions where orders may betransmitted to a central order processing center, and where credit ordebit card purchases may be approved and/or related data stored at thecentral processor. Still another example is in the field of direct storedelivery of merchandise. A pocket size terminal may contain thenecessary information concerning the items being delivered and may becoupled with the store computer system to effect a paperless deliverytransaction. (Pocket size may here be taken as a terminal with a baseperimeter of not more than twelve inches so as to fit in a typical sidepocket of a jacket or the like having a depth of e.g. eight inches.)

This invention also relates generally to data collection and processingsystems using portable, hand-held data terminals for collecting data,and for selectively processing and communicating collected data to othersystem elements. More particularly, the invention relates to collectionapparatus of such hand-held data terminals. Typical collection processesmay include reading data and manually keying in such read data. Thepresent invention relates particularly to apparatus for reading datainto the terminal. Known automated reading processes are executed byapparatus which includes scanning readers, for example.

In efforts to adapt data collection terminals to a wider scope of uses,terminals with increased ruggedness over state of the art terminals arebringing advances to the art. However, the usefulness of the datacollection terminals may also be increased by further reducing theweight and size of the data collection terminals to sizes and weightsbelow the present lower limits of state of the art terminals. Typicallya reduction in size might result in the elimination of at least somedesirable features. The use of modular data collection terminals wouldsupport the reduction in non-essential features to achieve certainreduction in size and weight.

In the data capture field, there are many applications where hand-helddata terminals should be of rugged construction so as to survive roughhandling. Many operators are not inclined toward painstaking or precisemanipulations. An example is in the use of RF data capture terminals onforklift trucks in factories and warehouses where items to betransported are identified by bar codes. Other examples are found in thefields of route delivery and direct store delivery where many items arehandled and the terminal means automates the accounting function. Evenin applications where bar code data is transmitted on-line to a centralstation, it may be desirable for hand-held terminals to be inserted intodocking apparatus for the interchange of data signals e.g. the loadingof scheduling information or the like into the terminal at the beginningof a working shift. Further where terminal means has memory capacity foraccumulating data during a delivery operation or the like, it may bedesirable for such data to be transferred to a printer so that a hardcopy may be produced. In cases where rechargeable batteries are used,the docking apparatus may provide for the recharging of such batteriesat the same time as data communication is taking place.

It is conceived that it would be highly advantageous to provide a datacapture system with docking apparatus adaptable to a wide range ofterminal means, and which furthermore could be quickly and simply loadedin a relatively foolproof manner, and without requiring attention andcare from operators engaged in physically demanding and arduous workroutines. A docking apparatus would be desirable that completely avoidsthe use of mating pin and socket type electrical connections, and thatdoes not rely on a specialized configuration of the terminal, e.g. theprovision of an optical scanner tip which may be used for datacommunication. However, pin and socket type connectors may be utilized.

In connection with the use of portable data systems it is conceived thatit would be highly advantageous to be able to readily upgrade a basichand-held terminal to incorporate bar code scan type readers and variousimage readers as they are progressively improved and developed. Aparticular goal would be the implementation of the auxiliary imagereader function in a rugged configuration free of moving parts. However,in the case of autofocus readers, the current state of the art mayrequire dynamic components for the sake of optimum compactness andeconomy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a pluralmodule system configuration that is adaptable to a wide range of datacapture applications while retaining pocket size and utilizing a corecomputer processor module of standard size and characteristics so as toachieve the economy of large scale production.

In a preferred embodiment the standardized computer processor module isprovided with a multi-tasking operating system such that batterymonitoring software and diagnostic routines will run at a fixed prioritylevel at all times while a wide range of applications software can berun concurrently without jeopardizing the reliability of the systemunder extended portable operating conditions.

Preferably the standardized computer processor module is selectivelyassociated with peripheral device shell configurations for adapting thesystem to specific applications. For example a shell configuration mayinclude a scanner module for reading bar codes and a manual data entryand display means specifically tailored to a particular job such aspackage tracking, inventory, direct store delivery accounting, or thelike. As a specific embodiment, the peripheral device shell may comprisea digitizer input tablet and display means which can receive handwritteninput data and provide a desired confirming display. A conversationalmode may provide for multiple interpretive displays of successivelylesser probability in response to an input character or word which isambiguous with function key selection of the correct interpretation, orthe like. A voice input and/or voice synthesizer shell module is anotherexemplary embodiment. Again in a conversational mode, the module mayrepeat input words in synthesized speech and/or provide a visual displaythereof whereupon actuation of a function button or the like mayinstruct the module to present a second most probable selection from itsvocabulary.

The handwritten or voice input modules may include a learning programfor progressively improving recognition of the individual user'scharacteristic handwritten or voice input. Physical objects related to agiven user application may be assigned respective code words e.g. ofeight bits length; thus in the case of a food service function, in afood selection mode, the writing of the letter "P" with a stylus on aninput tablet or the spoken word "potato chip" may be stored as the ASCIIcode for the character P in a special food selection storage. Anonvolatile storage section would enable the translation of the "P" codein food selection mode into the string of characters "potato chips" onthe display and/or produce the synthesized speech output "potato chips".In a conversational mode, if there were two or more P items, the shellmodule could in response to a "P" input, present on the display alisting of the P selections, e.g., as P1, P2, P3, etc., whereupon theuser could enter with a stylus or the like the correct numeral "1", "2","3", etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a peripheral device shell mayprovide a transparent tablet serving as data input and as a displaywindow. A sonic wave digitizer arrangement for example may sense stylus(or finger) position on the tablet. The display may include a graphicsliquid crystal display (LCD) behind the transparent tablet for defininga keyboard in a touch data entry mode, and for display of data suppliedby touch entry, or by other means such as handwritten input, speechinput, optical scanner input, and so on. Keyboard touch selectionpositions can be labeled by means of icons (pictorial images) where thisis most effective. The pocket size unit may be of sealed construction soas to be ideal for meter reading, timber inventory, or anyenvironmentally demanding application.

The computer processor module may be employed with peripheral devicessuch as printers, laser bar code readers, RF modules, smart cardinterface modules, disk systems, full travel keyboards, high resolutiondisplays, local area network (LAN) interface modules, etc., and varioussuch devices may be combined in a single self-contained battery poweredhand-held unit.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a terminalmeans which can be utilized by an individual at various locations fordirect communication with another computer system for the purpose ofcarrying out desired individual transactions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a terminalwhich can be conveniently carried on the person of an individual, forexample, in a shirt pocket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a terminal unit which isadapted to incorporate a means for reliably identifying an individualwho uses the terminal and wherein the terminal facilitates each step incarrying out the desired transaction.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a terminalcapable of removably receiving an information card with extensive memorycapability and which, together with the terminal, can be held in onehand during entry of information concerning a transaction.

In accordance with a further feature, such a hand-held terminal systemmay incorporate means for two-way communication with a central computersystem, e.g., via telephone lines or a radio frequency link.

In accordance with another feature, such a hand-held terminal system maybe provided with a scanner for optically scanning visual informationsuch as bar codes.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, such a hand-heldterminal system may have dimensions of width and length comparable to astandard intelligent information card and of thickness to fit in thepocket, such as a shirt pocket.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, such aterminal configuration is designed so as to be adaptable to a widevariety of applications without change in its basic housingconfiguration.

The PCT application Ser. No. 90/0382, filed Jun. 7, 1990, assigned toand owned by the assignee of the present application, the descriptivematter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety,refers to such a modular hand-held unit and discloses a manner ofattaching one functional module to another. The use of functionalmodules increases the scope of use of the basic data collectionterminals by allowing the substitution of a most desirable feature in aparticular application for another feature which may have becomeredundant. The eliminated feature may be least likely to be used inconjunction with the newly added feature. Without increase in size andweight of one type data collection terminal over another, respectivefunctions may be adapted to specific situations. In certainapplications, however, selected modules desirably include addedfeatures. The addition of such features in accordance with the inventionis advantageously accomplished with a minimal size and weight change.

Hence, as contemplated, a laser scanner is added to a data collectionterminal unit which typically features a radio frequency transceivermodule. In accordance with particular features of the invention, a radiotransceiver and a laser scanner are integrated into a single module withonly a minimal increase in volume over the volume of a radio transceivermodule without the laser scanner unit.

According to another aspect of the invention, rotatively mountedscanning mirrors of a laser scanner are formed about magnetic poles ofan armature of a motor for rotating the mirrors.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, electronic elementsand physical elements for implementing functions of a laser scanner ofthe hand-held data collection terminal and electronic coupling circuitsfor interconnecting the laser scanner with the data collection terminalare disposed in interleaved relationship with electronic components forprocessing communications between a transceiver and the laser scanner.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention toprovide a portable data system wherein technologically advanced imagereader devices can be readily accommodated.

In a presently preferred configuration particularly suited for forklifttruck applications and the like, a portable data terminal with a ruggedsurface contact configuration accommodates supply of power by thevehicle when the terminal is placed in a vehicle mount; further, theterminal batteries may receive charge while the terminal is operatingfrom the vehicle power so that full battery capacity is available whenportable operation is required. However, other contact means might alsobe utilized.

In accordance with a further development of the invention, portableterminals, for example, may be quickly removed from the charging systemby grasping of the terminal itself followed by a simple liftingextraction.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, adocking apparatus removably receives portable data terminal and codereader means for purposes of data communication, e.g., with a hostcomputer and/or for the recharging of rechargeable batteries. In onepotential embodiment the terminal and reader means may have electricalcontact pad means generally flush on their exterior. In such anembodiment, an abutting type engagement between the contact pad meansand cooperating electrical contact means of the docking apparatus may beused for transmitting charging current such that the typical pin andsocket type docking connections are entirely avoided.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the same basicdocking structure may be provided with greater or lesser numbers ofcontact positions. For example, one type of hand-held terminal intendedfor on-line RF communication with a host computer may have six contactpads for coupling with a local area network, and may have a nineposition electrical connector for compatibility with an earlier type ofinterface system requiring interfitting of pin and socket connectors;another type of hand-held terminal designed for route accountingapplications may have, e.g., twelve external contact pads and beintended for interfacing only with systems having provision for openabutment type interconnection.

The terminal and/or reader receptacle means is preferably arranged sothat with the terminal or reader secured therein, each line of thedisplay remains visually observable in a convenient orientation relativeto a driver of a vehicle. Also all of the key positions of the keyboardare manually accessible, the legends on the keyboard having anorientation so as to be conveniently readable, e.g. by the driver of thevehicle. In particular the axis of each line of the display and of eachrow of key positions should be generally horizontal (rather thanvertical) and the alphanumeric characters of the display and keyboardlegends should be upright (rather than inverted) as viewed by theoperator.

Also most preferably the terminal or reader can be inserted into thereceptacle with one hand and is securely retained. Ideally the terminalor reader is automatically secured with a snap type action which isperceptible, e.g., audibly and tactually to the operator.

In some instances a resilient bias may serve to firmly position theterminal or reader for steady reliable electrical contact at eachabutting type contact position in spite of vehicle jarring and vibrationor the like. For enhanced security of retention with the dockingapparatus, e.g. in mobile applications, the terminal or reader may beautomatically affirmatively retained in its receptacle e.g. by means ofa detent type action.

One exemplary embodiment of data capture terminal unit is provided witha plurality of electrically conductive pads generally coplanar with theexternal surface of the housing. Such electrically conductive pads maybe interconnected by internal circuitry to the connector elements of aD-style connector mounted upon the housing end cap such that rechargepower and data communication pathways may be made through either or bothof the connector means. The electrically conductive pads are positionedsuch that they may be engaged with mating elements having sufficientresilience to maintain stable electrical contact therebetween while theterminal is in a docking receptacle or the like.

According to another aspect of the invention, a laser light source mayprovide simultaneous illumination of a complete image line or a completeimage column, or a substantial linear segment thereof, facilitating theachievement of a rugged image reader unit preferably without movingparts in the illumination system. In a further development a long rangeCCD image reader having autofocus capabilities may be utilized with afan beam for simultaneously illuminating a complete image line over asubstantial range of distances.

Various other features and advantages of the data terminal in accordancewith the invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription, which may be best understood when read with reference tothe appended drawings.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The descriptive matter of the above-referred to PCT Internationalapplication PCT/US90/03282, filed Jun. 7, 1990, as published underInternational Publication No. WO 90/16033 on Dec. 27, 1990, includingforty-six pages of specification and nineteen sheets of drawingsincluding FIGS. 1 through 37 is hereby incorporated by reference.

FEATURES OF THE INCORPORATED PUBLISHED APPLICATION

The PCT International Publication No. WO 90/16033, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety, refers to a modular hand-held datacollection unit and discloses a manner of attaching one functionalmodule to another. The use of functional modules increases the scope ofuse of the basic data collection terminals by allowing the substitutionof a most desirable feature in a particular application for anotherfeature which may have become redundant. The eliminated feature may beleast likely to be used in conjunction with the newly added feature.Without increase in size and weight of one type data collection terminalover another, respective functions may be adapted to specificsituations. In certain applications, however, selected modules desirablyinclude added features. The addition of such features in accordance withthe invention is advantageously accomplished with a minimal size andweight change.

Hence, as contemplated, an image scanner utilizing an image sensor arraymay be incorporated in a module for a data collection terminal unitwhich may also include a radio frequency transceiver. In accordance withparticular features of the invention, a radio transceiver and anautomatic bar code reader with image sensor array and are integratedinto a single module.

Various other features and advantages of the data terminal in accordancewith the invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription, which may be best understood when read with reference tothe appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a modular data terminal;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the data terminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a related data collection terminal having acommunications module without a laser scanner;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the data terminal shown in FIG. 1, showingsomewhat schematically a data collection and communications module;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, showing somewhat simplified a stackedarrangement of a radio, a communications interface main circuit boardand a laser scanner assembly;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the data collection and communicationsmodule;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of the laser scanner assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a somewhat simplified sectional view of a motor assembly ofthe laser scanner assembly shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view diagram of the motor assembly shown insection in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a functional schematic diagram showing the manner in whichthe various elements of the data collection and communications moduleinteract with each other;

FIG. 11 corresponds with the first figure of incorporated U.S. Pat. No.4,877,949;

FIG. 12 is a partial plan view of a laser scanner;

FIG. 13A shows an image sensor system utilizing a laser line type beamgenerator and an image focusing and sensing system for reading areflected bar code image;

FIG. 13B shows a non-scanning laser illuminated bar code scanner forreading a reflected bar code image;

FIG. 13C shows the cross sectional shape of the beams produced by thelaser sources of FIG. 13B;

FIG. 14 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of an image readermodule similar to that of FIG. 16, but incorporating a transverselydisposed antenna and a different optical port construction;

FIG. 15 is a partial plan view of the module of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 shows an image reader module which may optionally use the imagesensor system of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the module case of the embodiment of FIG. 16,and illustrates an LED illumination system;

FIG. 18A is a cross sectional view of the module case taken generallyalong the line 15--15 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 18B is an end elevational view of the module case of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a somewhat diagrammatic horizontal sectional view showing adifferent image reader system for incorporation in the reader modulesherein disclosed;

FIG. 20 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the system ofFIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a front view of the system of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic illustration of the manner of applying a fantype laser line generator to the system of FIGS. 19, 20 and 21;

FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic illustration of a range and angle measurementsystem;

FIG. 24 is a front elevational view of a conventional horizontallydisposed bar code illustrating the impingement of a fan beamilluminating a bar code;

FIG. 25 is a diagrammatic illustration of a vertically and horizontallyadjustable fan beam selector;

FIG. 26 is a diagrammatic illustration of the vertically andhorizontally adjustable fan beam selector of FIG. 25 providing a fanbeam output;

FIG. 27 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view illustrating theinsertion of an intelligent information card into a receptacle of aterminal means in accordance with the present invention while theterminal means is held by one hand;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a terminal means in accordancewith the present invention and showing an exemplary display includingfour single lines of characters and at the bottom Chinese charactersoccupying the height of two character lines of the display;

FIG. 29 illustrates a matrix of touch regions for a touch screen such asindicated in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram for illustrating an exemplaryprocessing means occupying the interior of the terminal of FIGS. 27 and28;

FIG. 31 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing a terminalwhich may be utilized particularly for selecting desired functions in aparticular application of the terminal of FIGS. 27-30;

FIG. 32 shows the insertion of an intelligent information card into areceptacle of the terminal of FIG. 31 while the terminal is held by onehand;

FIG. 33 is a somewhat schematic block diagram for illustrating theelectronic processing components which may be utilized with theembodiment of FIGS. 31 and 32;

FIG. 34 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a shirt pocket sizeterminal means in accordance with the present invention, including ascanner tip, and having portions broken away to show internalcomponents;

FIG. 35 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view for indicating internalcomponents of the terminal means of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a diagrammatic view of a core processor module with touchscreen type display and having length and width comparable to a standardcredit or debit card and thickness to fit in a shirt pocket;

FIG. 37 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing an exemplary shellconfiguration for readily receiving the core processor module of FIG.34, 35 and 36, to form a plural module terminal system, e.g., adaptedfor direct store delivery accounting;

FIG. 38 shows a store terminal device for coupling with the system ofFIGS. 36 and 37;

FIG. 39 shows an exemplary coupling means for coupling the system ofFIGS. 36 and 37 with the store terminal of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 shows an exemplary plural module terminal system comprised of ashell portion having a processor and battery and also having opticalindicia reader components and light output components, and shown with adisplay and manual data input module assembled in the shell receptacle;and

FIG. 41 shows another exemplary plural module terminal system comprisinga shell portion having battery and light output components and a moduleassembled therewith containing optical indicia reader components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. Description of FIGS. 1-10

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a data collection terminal unit, alsoreferred to herein as data terminal, is designated generally by thenumeral 10. As shown in FIG. 1, a frontal face 12 of an elongate housing14 of a base module 16 of the data terminal 10 typical faces upward andis accessible to the user of the data terminal. The upward facingportion of the module 16 houses a keyboard module 17, including analphanumerical keyboard 18 and a display screen 19. The display screen19 is in a preferred embodiment described herein a 4-line by16-character Reflective Super Twist Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Ofcourse, other display means may be used in its stead. The keyboard 18included a lower, standard numerical keyboard section 21, above which isdisposed an alphabetical keyboard arrangement 22. An On-Off power key 23is preferably placed in a leftmost position of an uppermost row on anuppermost row of five keys. The outermost keys 24 in a bottom row areconfigured as "CLEAR" and "ENTER", while the remaining four keys in theuppermost row are preferably configured as a set of four user-definedfunction keys 26.

At a bottom end 30 of the housing 14, there are located two connectorplugs 31 and 32. The connectors 31 and 32 are protected by adjacent endand interleaved protrusions 36 of the housing 14, which protrusionsextend somewhat past the connectors. A preferred embodiment of the dataterminal 10 is intended to withstand without damage a drop of about 1.2meters to a solid surface, such as concrete. The preferred connector 31is an input-output port, as may be used for such data collection as barcode reading, for example. In such instance, the connector 31 ispreferred to be a 9-pin D-subminiature connector with pins interfacingto typical 5 volt scanning peripherals. The connector 32 may be used foraccessing external power sources or provide of combined power and datacommunication. A circular miniature DIN-type connector 32 may be used inthe preferred embodiment. A top end 40 of the preferred embodiment ofthe base module 16 typically may not include connectors. An antenna 41shown to extend above the top end 40 is further described in referenceto FIG. 2. The described frontal, substantially rectangularconfiguration of the data collection terminal 10 has a length ofsubstantially seven inches (Dimension A=7 inches) and a width ofapproximately two and three quarter inches (Dimension B=2 3/4"). Thesize is convenient to hold the terminal in one's hand, and as seen fromFIG. 2, the thickness or depth of the data terminal 10 permits theterminal 10 to be carried about in a potential user's pocket.

FIG. 2 shows depth or thickness features of the data terminal 10. Thebase module 16 of the data terminal 10 with the described frontal face12 includes an elongate upper housing portion 43 which defines thelongitudinal and lateral extent of the data terminal 10. Attached to theupper housing portion 43 and disposed adjacent the bottom end 30 is alower battery compartment 44. In the preferred embodiment, the batterycompartment 44 is assembled as a lower housing portion to the upperhousing portion 43. Adjacent the top end 40 of the data terminal 10 adata collection and communications module 48 is attached to the loweredge of the upper housing portion 43. The antenna 41 as is typical forexternal antennas extends upward from the data collection andcommunications module 48 above the top end 40 of the data terminal 10.

One of the features of hand-held data terminals related to thisinvention and as disclosed in the PCT application PCT/US90/03282incorporated herein by reference relates to the exchangeability ofmodules of different shape and varied function. It is of coursedesirable to have the various modules, though of different shape,substantially of the same size, such that the feel and handling of thefamily of data terminals 10 remain substantially identical regardless bywhat features a particular module may be distinguished over another dataterminal 10. The data collection and communications module 48 in FIG. 2.includes a radio 49 and laser scanning apparatus 50, the relativepositions of which are best referred to in FIG. 5. Externally thepresence of the radio module 49 is of course indicated by the presenceof the antenna 41 in FIG. 2. The radio module may be a commerciallyavailable pretuned 1-watt (UHF) frequency modulated (FM) radiotransceiver module, or any similar radio module, such as a MotorolaP10tm radio model, for example.

In accordance herewith it is contemplated to provide the data collectionand communications module 48 as a module which is capable of readilyreplacing another module, such as a radio communications module 51 whichis shown in FIG. 3, for example, and which does not include a combinedradio and laser scanning function. Each of these interchangeable modulesfeature a quick exchange mounting mechanism, such as is more clearlyillustrated with respect to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the datacollection and communications module 48 is matched in a contourcontinuation along a juncture line 52 to the housing 14 adjacent edge ofthe battery compartment 44 and along a longitudinal parting line 53 ofthe base module 16. The juncture line 52 defines a cavity within thebase module 16 within which modules as the module 48 may be received.The module 48 features a plurality of laterally disposed latching hooksor latch hooks 56 which become engaged by respective latching seats orlatch seats 57 disposed along the adjacent edge of the base module 16when the module 48 is removed toward and into engagement with theadjacent edge and then toward the battery compartment 44, as shown bythe arrow. Electrical communication is established via a power andcommunications connector 61 the pins of which engage a mating connectorsocket 62 within the base module 16. A set of screws 63 may be tightenedthrough the battery compartment 44 into a set of threaded seats 64disposed in the adjacent wall of the module 48 to securely retain theattached module as an integrated part of the data terminal 10. At thetop end of the data terminal 10, a lip or extending stop edge 66 of themodule 55 engages a complementarily shaped seat 67 to securely interlockthe data collection and communications module 48 with the base module16.

FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a comparison of relative depths or thicknessesbetween the data collection and communications module 48 and the radiocommunications module 51. The radio communications module 51 is alsoshown equipped with a preferred hand strap 68 attached longitudinally tothe rear of the data terminal 10. Though not presently contemplated foruse on the data terminal 10 featuring the data collection andcommunications module 48, it is clearly possible to use the hand strap68 on the data terminal 10 having the module 48 As seen in FIG. 3, theradio communications module 51 fits generally with its thickness intothe contour of the housing of the data terminal 10. The additional laserscanning apparatus 50 does require an increased thickness or depth inthe general contour of the housing 14. However, in accordance herewith,an increase in the thickness of the housing 14 has been minimized, aswill become apparent from the further description of the improvedarrangement of the laser scanning apparatus 50, but a necessary increasein the depth has been employed to increase the ease of manually holdingthe data terminal 10 during use. Either of the modules 48 to 51, whenseated against the rear of the housing 14, blends with the contour ofthe housing along the line 52. FIG. 2 shows a thickness of the dataterminal 10 at its bottom end of only about 11/2 inches (Dimension D),while the thickness at the top end 40 of the data terminal with the datacollection and communications module 48 amounts to two inches (DimensionC1=2"). In FIG. 3, both top and bottom ends 40 and 30 of the dataterminal 10 with the radio module 51 measure substantially the samedepth or thickness of about 11/2 inches (Dimension C2=11/2"). Theincrease in the thickness of the module 48 over that of the module 51(Dimension E=1/2") is formed in a transition 69 which has been found toadvantageously provide a resting ledge for the index finger of a user ofthe data terminal 10, providing added stability during use of the dataterminal 10. With the index finger of the user resting against thetransition or ledge 69, the thumb of the user is conveniently locatedalong a lateral surface 70 of the module 48. A pushbutton 71 is disposedin the general area of the lateral surface 70 to be readily accessiblefor activation by the user's thumb. The pushbutton 71 is hence used toactivate a laser scanning operation of the laser scanning apparatus 50.The pushbutton 71 may be duplicated in an identical location on theopposite lateral wall of the module 48. In this manner both left-handedand right-handed users of the data terminal 10 would be able to use thelaser operation trigger pushbutton 71. The location of the pushbutton 71in FIG. 2 denotes both oppositely facing pushbutton locations on theopposite side walls of the module 48. The overall lengths of the modules48 and 51 are substantially identical (Dimension F=31/4") because ofoverall longitudinal restraints.

FIGS. 5 and 6 best illustrate the physical interrelationship betweenvarious elements of the radio 49 and the laser scanning apparatus 50which results in the described minimal increase of the overall thicknessof the data collection and communications module 48 over the radiomodule 51. The module 48 is contained within a molded protective shell75 of a high impact plastic material, preferably identical to thematerial employed for the housing 14. The outer contour of the shell 75also blends into that of the housing 14, such that when edges 76 and 77and the stop edge 66 are placed and locked against the respectivelymatching juncture lines 52 and the seat 67, the protective shell formspart of the housing 14. The edges 76 include the latch hooks 56 whichlock the shell 75 to the housing 14. An apertured boss, such asindicated at 78 provides a mounting seat for the antenna 41. Interiorlyof the shell 75 a plurality of spaced, internally threaded bosses 79 aredisposed in a plane to support the mounting of a main circuit board 82,which is also referred to as an analog board 82.

The analog board 82 is a multi-use element, in that it is first of all acircuit board. The circuit board 82 is in particular a four-layercircuit board, having conductive patterns disposed on both major outersurfaces 83 and 84, the conductive patterns including designate sitesform mounting electronic components to both sides of the circuit board.Two inner conductive planes provide ground and interconnection planesfor the components on the respective outer surfaces of the circuit board82. The ground plane within the circuit board 82 substantially isolateselectrical radio noise from interfering with the laser scanningcomponents and to minimize such radio noise from being emitted from theshell 75.

To the surface 84 of the main circuit board 82 there is mounted a laserscanner submodule 86. The laser scanner submodule 86 includes a mountingframe 87, preferably a molded structure of a high impact plastic. Alaser diode 88 is mounted to a support seat 89 of the mounting frame 87.The laser diode is of cylindrical shape, approximately 1/2 of an inch indiameter and about 3/4 of an inch long. The laser diode 88 is a knowncommercially available element, such as under the designation TOLD 9211from Toshiba Electric, for example. The laser diode is provided as afully assembled unit including collimating optics having a lens window90 through which a collimated laser beam is emitted. The preferred laserdiode 88 is of "InGaAIP" material, a known laser material which emitslight in the humanly perceivable wavelength range of 670 nanometers. Theemitted light is perceived as ruby red, giving the operator of the laserscanner an indication of the operability of the laser and permitting thelaser light to be visually "aimed" against indicia such as a bar code tobe read. A scanning mirror assembly 92 is placed adjacent the path ofthe emitted laser beam, such that in a plan view a regular polygon 93 ofhighly polished mirrors 94 is disposed in the plane of the laser beamemitted from the window 90. The mirrors 94 form a cylinder having asectional shape of a regular polygon. In the preferred embodiment atotal of ten mirrors 94 are evenly spaced about the periphery of theright cylinder. The laser beam impinges on a primary reflector mirror 95which is typically held in a seat 96 of the frame 87. The scanningmirror assembly 92 is a circuit board mounted assembly of stepping motorassembly 98. The right cylinder appearing in plan view as a regularpolygon 93 of the mirrors 94 constitutes an armature of the motorassembly 98. The mirrors 94 are formed in the peripheral wall of thearmature of the motor assembly 98. A motor circuit board 99 supports aspindle 102 of the armature 93. The motor circuit board 99 also supportselectronic driver components of the motor assembly 98. The scanningmirror assembly 92 is mounted to the frame 87. A cut-out 104 in thecircuit board 99 provides clearance between the board 99 and the laserdiode 88, such that the mirrors 94 are disposed in the emission plane ofthe laser diode 88.

An optical analog circuit board 105 is mounted against the frame 87across from the main circuit board 82 and fastened with typical mountingscrews 106 to the frame 87. A typical circuit board connector pinarrangement, such as is shown at 108 may be connected to a typical flatcable 109 to electrically couple the analog circuit board 105 to themain circuit board 82 and to the scanning mirror assembly 92. Thecircuit board 105 includes circuit elements for receiving and amplifyingoptical signals which represent reflected signals as a result of theoutgoing laser beam from the laser diode 88. The circuit elementsinclude such typical elements as photo diodes which are integrated intoreceiving optics 112 mounted to the circuit board 105.

Mounted to the surface 83 of the main surface board 82 is a radiosupport frame 115. The radio support frame 115 is a U-shaped frame whichis mounted peripherally about the circuit board 82 extending upward fromits surface 83. Formed tongues 116 of the support frame 115 areinsertible into apertures 117 of the circuit board 82 to fasten theframe 115 to the circuit board. The frame 115 has a predetermined heightbetween a lower edge 118 and an upper edge 119. Apertured mounting lugs121 disposed at the upper edge 119 are adapted to receive the threadedfasteners 106. The radio 49 is mounted on a circuit board 122. Thecircuit board 122 is attached, such as by the fasteners 106, to the lugs121 of the support frame 115, the height of the support frame 115spacing the main circuit board 82 and the radio circuit board 122 toaccommodate the components on both boards. The support frame inconjunction with the ground plane of the circuit board 82 also forms aradio frequency emission cage about the components of the radio circuitboard 122, containing radio frequency (RE) emissions in accordance withregulations. The circuit board 122 may in itself contain RF shieldingtoward the tip of the formed cage, or separate shielding such as anadditional board having a ground plane may be added.

A circuit board connector pin arrangement 125 receives a typical circuitboard connector strip 126 of a circuit routing board 127. The circuitrouting board 127 routes power and communicative interconnectionsbetween the main circuit board 82 and the base module 16. A conductiveground plane 128 of the routing board 127 may preferably be coupled tothe support frame 115 to complete the RF cage in conjunction with thesupport frame 115 and the ground plane of the main circuit board 82.

The assembly of the described elements of the main circuit board 82, thelaser scanner assembly 86 and the radio 49 into the housing shell 75spaces the elements tightly, placing the plane of the laser beam and thereceiving optics 112 of the laser scanner analog circuit board 105adjacent a scanning window 131 of the shell 75. The scanning laser beamand its reflection pass through the window in the outgoing and incomingdirections, respectively. Spacing the described components at minimumdistances adjacent one another as shown in the sectional view of FIG. 5,for example, is made possible by a cutout 132 in the main circuit board82 to accommodate an upper portion of the laser diode 88. It has beenfound that the cutout 132 in the main circuit board 82 and hence in itsground plane does not adversely affect RF shielding of emissions fromthe radio 49. Further in reference to the main circuit board 82 as shownin FIG. 6, the circuit board 82 includes on opposite edges 136 and 137electrical actuator switches 138. The switches 138 are the electricalcomponents which in conjunction with the external element of thepushbutton 71, typically a molded rubber part, form the pushbutton 71.The external portion of the pushbutton 71 is disposed in the shell 75 tobecome aligned with the electrical actuator switches 138 when the maincircuit board 82 is assembled into the shell 75 as shown in FIG. 5, forexample.

FIG. 7 is a simplified top view of the laser scanner assembly 86 to showthe path of the laser beam emitted from the laser diode 88, as shown at140. The laser beam 140 impinges against the primary reflector mirror 95and is reflected at 142 against the rotating polygon of preferably tenmirrors 94. The armature 93 rotates during the scanning process in thedirection of arrow 143, such that the laser beam reflected from themirrors 94 scans at 144 in a direction from left to right of an operatorholding the data terminal 10. Left and right scanning window edges 146and 147, respectively, cut off the laser beam to the far left and rightand limit the scanning angle to a reasonable deflection from acenterline of the data terminal 10. The optimum scanning angle may bealtered by relocating the window edges 146 and 147 accordingly. Thelaser beam, when reflected from an impinged on surface 149 into thereceiving optics 112, would be modulated in accordance to reflectionpatterns on such reflected surface 149, such as the dark and lightalternating regions of a bar code.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through the stepping motor assembly 98which is somewhat simplified for the sake of clarity. The motor circuitboard 99 supports magnetic field coils 151, of which there may be threeequally spaced coils, as in a preferred example. The coils 151 lie inthe plane of the motor circuit board 99 and direct a magnetic fieldsubstantially perpendicularly thereto out of the plane of the circuitboard 99. The coils 151 are electrically coupled to electronic driverelements (not shown) which are preferably also disposed adjacent thecoils 151 on the motor circuit board 99. The main body of the armature93 is of non-magnetic material, such as aluminum. However, a magnetizedpermanent magnet element 153 is disposed in a central recess 154 of thearmature 93. The armature 93 is rotatably supported by the spindle orshaft 102 which may be mounted for rotation in a bearing 156 disposed onthe surface of the motor circuit board 99. Alternately, the spindlemight be fixedly mounted to extend from the motor circuit board 99, suchthat the bearing 156 would reside between the spindle and the armature.A circular plate 157 of a magnetically conductive material is disposedbelow the circuit board 99 to serve as a magnetic flux shunt and providea magnetic return path for the magnetic flux lines generated by thecoils 151.

FIG. 9 showing a schematic plan view of the armature 93 and the fieldcoils 151. The magnet element 153 of the armature 93 has a plurality ofalternately oriented peripherally spaced magnetic polepieces 161 whichare in a preferred embodiment part of the single ceramic type magnetdisc 153. Within each of the coils 151, there may be located a halleffect sensor device 162. The hall effect sensors 162 detect from themagnetic field the current position of the armature or rotor 93 tocontrol the switching of the drive current through the coils 151. In thestepping motor art there are various known ways of switching coils andof overdriving in accordance with the position of the rotor 93 toachieve a desirable drive pattern of the rotor. In the presentembodiment of the invention, a substantially uniform scan rate is ofcourse desirable, though the armature or rotor 93 is driven through thestepping sequence of the motor assembly 98. It should be understood thatthe use of hall effect devices to determine the position of the armature93 is but one known manner for controlling the speed of rotation and theposition of the armature. It is also possible to use opto-electronicencoding techniques to achieve substantially similar positionrecognition and to control the speed of rotation of the armature 93. Itis to be realized that the flattened structure of the motor assembly 98resulting from the folding back of the mirrors 94 on the armature 93 isof significance in containing the radio 49 and the laser scanner 50within the shell 75 of the preferred size as described herein.

Reference to the schematic diagram in FIG. 10 shows major functionalelements of the described data collection and communications module 49.The functional representation of the laser scanning assembly 86,referred to in FIG. 10 as laser module 86 is coupled with fourconnections to a scan bus 171 on the main circuit board 82. Theelectronic circuits in the laser module for driving the stepping motorand for amplifying reflected signals is a commercially availableconfiguration. In the preferred embodiment, the circuits of the lasermodule 86 have been obtained from Optoelectronics Co. Ltd. in Japan.Connections for communicating signals between the laser module 86 and amicroprocessor (CPU) 174 of the base module 16 include RENABLE, DATA,TIMING (SOS), and ground (GND). RENABLE activates the laser module 86upon one of the pushbuttons 71 being closed, as represented by SW1 andSW2 on the main circuit board 82. Closing of either of the pushbuttons71 is recognized by the CPU 174 of the base module 16. The CPU switchesthe RENABLE connection to a high, which powers up the laser scannerassembly 86. VCC is a typical power input, while the laser diode isdriven through a DC to DC converter "51953", identified by numeral 176.When the motor 98 has come to speed the laser diode is turned on, andthe laser module d86 sends a signal via TIMING (SOS) to the CPU 174. TheTIMING signal frames the data and alerts the CPU that data areforthcoming. Data are transmitted to the CPU via the DATA line and thescan bus 171. It should be noted that the scan bus 171 is coupled viathe routing board 127 to the CPU 174 of the base module 15, and allother signal and power lines are simply routed through the routing board127 between the main circuit board 82 and the base module 16. There isno further manipulation of data or signals between the CPU and the lasermodule 86 on the main circuit board. On the other hand, the main circuitboard 82 performs various functions relating to the control of radiocommunication between the CPU 174 and the radio or transceiver board 49.It should be noted that not all possible control leads to the radio 49are connected to the CPU 174 or to the main circuit board 82, though itis conceivable that additional functions may be implemented andconnected in variations of the preferred embodiment with respect towhich the invention is described. Functions relating in particular tothe control of the radio 49 and particularly to the frequency control indigital data transmission are discussed in related U.S. application Ser.No. 07/467,096, filed Jan. 18, 1990, by S. E. Koenck and R. L. Mahany,assigned to the assignee of the present application, the disclosure ofwhich in its entirety is incorporated herein by reference. Thus, as isapparent from FIG. 10, the TRANSCEIVER INTERFACE function represented bya circuit element 177 is a communications interface for between theradio 49 and the CPU 174. The circuit element 177 activates power to theradio 49 and controls transmission and reception signals, such asindicated by TX MOD and DISCR OUT. The circuit element 177 is driven byan on board clock timed by a 4 MHZ crystal 179. A buzzer circuit 181 isamplified using on-board power of the main circuit board 82. It shouldbe realized that not all connections from any commercially availableradio 49 and the main circuit board may be used. Various types of radiosare known, of which certain radios may function on more than onefrequency or a radio type referred to as spread spectrum radio mayrequire various controls. It is contemplated that such radios referredto as spread spectrum radios may be used in conjunction with and as partof the invention described herein. The descriptive matter of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/660,615, filed Feb. 15, 1991, by S. E. Koenck etal., the application being assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication, is being incorporated herein by reference. Such patentapplication refers to advantages of adapting modules to function withdifferent radios. It appears from the above disclosure herein that thepresent invention may be adapted to function with a number of suchdifferent types of radios.

Various other changes and modifications in the structure of thedescribed embodiment are possible without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

2. Description of FIG. 11

FIG. 11 illustrates a preferred instant bar code reader system forextending the versatility of a commercial bar code reader such as shownin U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,057. Component 3510, FIG. 11, may represent acontrol and processing means for the system and may include a centralprocessing unit, memory units and analog to digital conversion channels.

The central processing unit and associated memory form the main controlportion of the system. The other functional blocks of FIG. 11 may beinputs or outputs with respect to the central processing unit.

The central processing unit may be a microprocessor that executes theprogram to control the operation of the reader. The microprocessor actsas a microcontroller with the capability of sensing and controlling thefunctional elements of the bar code reader, and decoding the bar code assupplied from a code image sensor means 3511. Where the reader iscoupled on line with a host computer system, (for example by a hostconnection means in the form of a flexible cable), the decoded barsignal is transmitted to the host under the control of the centralprocessing unit. The microprocessor is capable of static operation withshut-down for power conservation. Wake-up of the processor will occurwhen an operator actuates a scan switch 3512.

An electrically erasable read only memory of component 3510 may beutilized to store parameters and special modifiable decoding sequencesfor the bar code reader operation. Examples of these parameters would belabel code, and input/output speed and control format.

Component 3510 may also include a random access memory for datacollection, decoding work space and buffer storage of the decoded labeldata for transmission to a host computer, for example. The random accessmemory can be internal to the microprocessor chip or reside on a databus.

The analog/digital channels are for receiving the bar code signalsgenerated by the bar code image sensor mean 3511 and for other purposesas will be hereafter explained.

The image sensor means 3511 may, for example, include a photosensorarray indicated diagrammatically at 3513 having a one dimensional lineararray of photodiodes for detecting the bar code reflection image. Toread labels with bar code lengths of greater than seven inches with highresolution requires that the array have relatively high resolution. Byway of example, the array 3513 may comprise five thousand photodiodecircuits (5,000 pixels) and provide approximately three photodiodecircuits (3 pixels) for each five mils (0.005 inch) of a bar codelength. (Each pixel of array 3513 may have a length of about sevenmicrons.) A charge coupled device (CCD) shift register may be arrangedto receive bar code signal elements from the respective photodiodecircuits after a suitable integration interval. Once the bar code signalelements have been transferred to the shift register, the signalelements are retained independently of further exposure of thephotodiodes to reflected light from the bar code.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, an intensity sensor 3514 is provided andmay comprise a photodiode that will determine the relative amount oflight exposure of the photosensor array 3513. If component 3510 operatesat sufficiently high speed, the signal from the intensity sensor 3514may be supplied exclusively to component 3510 via an analog/digitalchannel so that the control and processing means can determine theoptimum point for transfer of the bar code image signals to the shiftregister.

In a presently preferred implementation, however, the intensity sensormeans 3514 is directly coupled with the hardware control circuits of theflashable illuminator means and of the bar code image sensor means, andthis is indicated by dash lines L1 and L2 in FIG. 11; in this case, lineL is used only so that the processor component 3510 is advised that aflash has actually occurred. In a preferred embodiment wherein aflashable illuminator 3515 is driven by capacitor discharge current, acomponent 3516 may effect interruption of the flow of current from thecapacitor based directly on the signal supplied via L1 from intensitysensor 3514. In this way, energy is conserved, and recharging of thecapacitor speeded up. Component 3516 may comprise a flash currentinterrupter switch means, e.g. a solid state switch which is controlledto interrupt discharge of the capacitor of high voltage generation unit3517 and thus to terminate the flash of light from the flashableilluminator 3515 when intensity sensor 3514 indicates that adequatereflected light has been received from a bar code.

FIG. 11 also indicates an input/output buffer component 35121 forcoupling the control and processing means 3510 with a host processor orthe like. A connection means 35122 may directly receive a host processorso that the host processor housing is physically attached with thereader housing. As another example, connection means 35122 may comprisea cable containing six conductors. Preferably, such a cable would bedetachable at the reader. In this second example, all needed voltagesmay be generated in the reader from plus five volts supplied by two ofthe six conductors (+5 V, GND). The other four signal lines of the cableare preferably independently programmable as inputs or outputs. By wayof example, the host processor may be part of a held computer such asshown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,455,523 and 4,553,081. The rechargeablebatteries of the portable computer may supply all needed power to thereader unit of the present invention. In the second example, a hostcomputer unit can be carried in a belt holster for example duringextended use of the reader unit of the present invention.

3. Description of FIGS. 12, 13A, 13B, and 13C

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 7 of U.S. application Ser. No.07/881,096 (filed May 11, 1992, now abandoned), but showing the use oftwo laser diode sources Z88-1 and Z88-2. FIG. 12 is generated byshifting parts 88, 93, and 95 in FIG. 7 of U.S. application Ser. No.07/881,096 (filed May 11, 1992, now abandoned) to the right so that thecenter of rotation of rotor Z93 coincides with axis Z148 lying centrallyof reader window Z131. Then parts Z88-1 and Z95-1 as so located relativeto central axis Z148, are replicated to the left of axis Z148 as partsZ88-2 and Z95-2. The frame 87 (as illustrated in the sixth figure ofU.S. application Ser. No. 07/881,096, filed May 11, 1992, now abandoned)is now constructed symmetrically to accommodate the two laser diodesources Z88-1 and Z88-2.

FIG. 13A shows the use of two line type laser sources Z201, Z203, andZ202, Z204, each illuminating a total field of view Z205 in common, inwhich case moving parts such as rotor Z93 are entirely eliminated. Theimage sensor array and optics system 112 (as illustrated by the fifthfigure of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/881,096, filed May 11, 1992, nowabandoned) 12, including optics 112A and image type photosensor array112B, e.g., a CCD image sensor array, is located within the dimension E,(as illustrated by the second figure of U.S. application Ser. No.07/881,096, filed May 11, 1992, now abandoned), below motor circuitboard 99 for the embodiments illustrated by figures one through ten andeleven in U.S. application Ser. No. 07/881,096, filed May 11, 1992, nowabandoned.

FIG. 13B shows certain components of a non-scanning laser illuminatedbar code scanner wherein two solid state laser sources Z1201, Z1203 andZ1202, Z1204 are placed off axis from the centerline of the CCD opticalpath. The sensing device does not require a folded light path. Sincemirrors are not required sensitivity is increased up to five percent peroptical interface removed. The half power radiation line for the solidstate laser sources (Z1201, Z1203 and Z1202, Z1204), after passingthrough the dispersive optics (Z1203, Z1204) normally have an ellipticalcross-sectional shape. When the ellipse is altered by non-axisymmetricpropagation it is fanned out into a distorted pattern which no longerfully resembles an ellipse (FIG. 13C). This may be corrected by usingtwo laser sources with outputs which overlap a target bar code. Such aconfiguration acts to partially compensate for this pattern distortion.Further compensation may be achieved by utilizing a flash A/D converterand applying conventional digital high pass filtering techniques on theconverted data to eliminate the residual effect on uneven illumination.The two laser sources are preferably high powered devices which arepulsed rather than used on a continuous basis. This provides intenseillumination for a brief period of time. In such an embodiment the highvoltages required by a Xenon flash are not necessary.

For the embodiment of FIGS. 13A and 13B, the mounting frame Z87 and themotor circuit board Z99 may be omitted, and the image reader circuitryassociated with system Z112 and laser diodes Z201, Z202 may be placed atside Z84 of the main circuit board Z82. The laser sources Z201 and Z202may be accommodated by cutouts such as 132 (as illustrated by the sixthfigure of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/881,096, filed May 11, 1992, nowabandoned) to minimize any required extra thickness E, (see FIG. 2 ofSer. No. 07/881,096), of the image reader/RF module containing thecomponents Z112 and Z201-Z204 of FIGS. 13A and 13B.

4. Description of FIGS. 16-18B

FIGS. 16-18B illustrate an image reader/RF module for assembly with thebase module 16 (as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 10 of Ser. No.07/881,096), and which may be readily modified to form the system ofFIG. 13A with no moving parts.

FIGS. 16-18B show an image reader/RF module Z210 which isinterchangeable with module 48 (of the fourth figure of Ser. No.07/881,096) and Module 51 (of the third figure of Ser. No. 07/881,096)with respect to base module 16. A terminal housing including base modulehousing 14 and module shell 214 has the overall dimensions A, B, D andCl as given with reference to the first and second figures of Ser. No.07/881,096 (i.e. A is about seven inches, e.g. 6.875 inches or 17.46centimeters; B is about two and three-fourths inches, e.g., 2.625 inchesor 6.68 centimeters; D is about one and one-half inches, e.g. 1.25inches 3.18 centimeters; and Cl is about two inches or about fivecentimeters). The image reader module Z210 is provided with an edge faceZ214A (FIG. 18B), mating with edge faces such as 52 and 53 of the basemodule 16 in the same way as described for the module 48 of the secondfigure of Ser. No. 07/881,096. A downwardly protruding wall portionZ214B advantageously provides a gripping margin for the index finger ofa user of the data terminal providing secure support for the terminaleven in the absence of a hand strap such as 68 (as illustrated in thethird figure of Ser. No. 07/881,096).

The module Z210 is shown as being provided with latch hooks Z216 (FIG.18A), for interengaging with respective latch seats 57 (FIG. 4 of Ser.No. 07/881,096), as with modules 48 and 51. Module Z210 is also equippedwith a stop edge Z214C, (FIG. 18A), with a recess Z217 for interlockingwith a projection Z218 of the seat 67, (FIG. 4 of Ser. No. 07/881,096),as the module Z210 is moved longitudinally into its final position.Threaded seats are indicated at Z219, (FIG. 18B), for receiving screws63, (FIG. 4 of Ser. No. 07/881,096), so as to fasten module Z210 as afixed part of the data terminal.

During longitudinal movement of module Z210 into its final assembledposition, the pins of connector Z222 interengage with the receivingconnector 62, (FIG. 4 of Ser. No. 07/881,096). The relative longitudinalpositions of latch parts (216, 57) assure that the pins of connectorZ222 are moved upwardly to a position just in front of and aligned withconnector 62 before the longitudinal movement can begin. The levels ofmating edges (53, 214D) of the base module 16 and of the module Z210assure that the pins of connector Z222 must be at the proper levelduring longitudinal movement as permitted by the interfittingconfigurations of latch parts (Z216, 57).

In the implementation of image scan/RF module Z210 shown in FIG. 16, amain analog board Z228 underlies a radio subassembly Z230 including anRF board Z234. The main analog board Z228 essentially corresponds withmain analog board 82, and the RF board Z234 is essentially the same asRF board 122 of the previous embodiment. An open rectangular metalshielding frame Z236 surrounds the RF components. The RF board Z234 mayin itself contain RF shielding toward its upper surface, or separateshielding such as an additional board having a ground plane may beprovided immediately above the RF board Z234 as shown at 123, (FIG. 6 ofSer. No. 07/881,096).

In an embodiment where the RF transmitter is not active at the same timeas the scanner subassembly, no special RF shielding was included withthe RF board Z234.

In a specific implementation, the shielding frame Z236 is provided withprojecting tabs which are inserted into receiving slots of the analogboard Z228 and soldered in place so as to be directly electricallyconnected with the inner ground plane of the analog board Z228 (in thesame way as for tongues 116 and apertures 117 of the sixth figure ofSer. No. 07/881,096).

FIG. 18A shows a cross section of the module shell Z214 taken along line15--15 of FIG. 17. This Figure shows integral rib means Z251 which alsoappears in FIGS. 16 and 17, and which adjoins a through-aperture Z252accommodating the threaded end of antenna Z253. A thin metal plate Z254fits into the space Z255 and is captured therein and prevented fromrotation when the antenna is threadedly engaged therewith.

A boss Z260, FIG. 18A, integral with the shell 214 has a threaded insertfor use in securing the RF assembly Z230 to the shell. A transverse ribZ263, (FIG. 18B), extends near edge face Z214A and bosses Z264 forreceiving threaded seats Z219.

Referring to FIG. 18A, the shell Z214 has thickened end wall portionsZ270 and Z271 with respective sets of cylindrical bores Z281 forreceiving respective light emitting diode units such as Z291, (FIG. 16),for directing illuminating beams along respective beam axes Z301-Z306,(FIG. 17), toward an image plane Z307.

Centrally of the shell frontal wall there is an inwardly extending bossZ310 having a cylindrical chamber Z312 which opens through the frontwall and accommodates insertion from the exterior of an opticssubassembly such as diagrammatically indicated at Z314, FIG. 16. Theoptics Z314 collects reflected light from a bar code or the like at theimage plane Z307 via an entrance portion which communicates with opticschamber Z312 and which is diagrammatically indicated at Z312A in FIG.17. A reduced diameter aperture Z318 of boss Z310 accommodates thepassage of the focused reflected image along an axis Z320. A reflectingmirror Z322 secured at a seat Z324 formed by shell Z214 redirects thereflected bar code image to an image sensor Z326 which is mechanicallyand electrically connected to the image reader board Z266.

In the exemplary embodiment, the optics Z314 focuses a bar code imageonto image sensor Z326 for positions of the bar code along optical axisZ330, (FIG. 16), which are beyond the end of the antenna Z253. In thisway a simple optical arrangement can be utilized, even an opticalarrangement with minimal depth of field of approximately one inch.

In the exemplary embodiment, the lens system Z314 was from a commercialCCD reader of Norand Corporation which utilized a folded optical pathgenerally as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,523 issued Jan. 16, 1990. Itwas possible to eliminate two reflectory mirrors of the folded opticalpath by placing the bar code sensing region beyond the antenna.

In the exemplary implementation it was found that a substantially moreuniform illumination of a bar code could be obtained at an operatingrange beyond a three inch antenna by adjusting the axes Z301-Z306somewhat in comparison to directions parallel to the optical axis Z330as indicated in FIG. 16, such that the axes Z301-Z306 of the beamsintersect the image plane Z307 at uniformly spaced points.

5. Description of FIGS. 14 and 15

FIGS. 14-15 illustrate a further image reader/RF module for assemblywith the base module 16 of the first through tenth figures of Ser. No.07/881,096, and which may be readily incorporate the laser reader systemof FIG. 13A with no moving parts.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the further image reader/RF module Z410 which isinterchangeable with modules 48, 51, and 210. Elements Z414, Z414A,Z414B, Z414C, Z414D, Z416, Z417, Z422, Z428, Z430, Z434, Z436, and Z491of FIGS. 14 and 15 substantially conform with elements Z214, Z214A,Z214B, Z214C, Z214D, Z216, Z217, Z222, Z228, Z230, Z234, Z236 and Z291of FIGS. 16-18B, so that the description of these elements will beunderstood by reference to the description of FIGS. 16-18B.

As seen in FIG. 14, housing Z414 is provided with an outwardlyprotruding seat; Z414E which receives a snap-on cowl piece Z510 whichserves to retain an optical window Z531 covering an elongated generallyrectangular opening at the front housing Z414.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the module Z410 has a transverse extendingantenna Z546 housed within a dielectric cover Z548 completely within theconfines of the length of housing Z14 with cowl Z510, and within thewidth dimension of housing Z14. The antenna may be a helical wound wiretype, and may be carried by a fitting Z510 having an enlarged base Z550Afor coupling with the RF circuits Z430.

6. Description of FIGS. 19-22

FIGS. 19-22 show a reflected image reader submodule which may be used inany of the embodiments disclosed in US application Ser. No. 07/881,096such as those of the first through eleventh and the thirteenth througheighteenth figures of Ser. No. 07/881,096, and the foregoing embodimentstaken with FIG. 13A. Coplanar solid state light sources, including laserdiodes Z210, Z202, and cylindrical lenses Z203, Z204, similar to thoseshown in FIG. 13A may also be included with submodule Z600, for exampleat Z601, Z602 outside the margins Z603, Z604 of the collecting zone forthe reflected light image, or the submodule may operate from ambientlight, or from light from an auxiliary spot-light like the light sourceon a vehicle and separate from the hand-held bar code reader of any ofFIGS. 1-18 of Ser. No. 07/881,096, equipped with the submodule 600.

In the submodule Z600, the reflected image impinges on a reflectingmirror surface Z610A of a segmental spherical aluminum mirror Z610 whoseheight corresponds to the height of module Z600 and may correspondgenerally with height E, (FIG. 2 of Ser. No. 07/881,096). Mirror Z610Areflects the incident image to a surface mirror region Z620A of a coverglass Z620. The image is again reflected and is then focused by lensassembly Z630 onto an photodetector image array Z640. A linear actuatorZ650, FIG. 20, may be coupled with the lens assembly Z630 and controlthe axial position thereof for optimum focus of the information imageonto array Z640, e.g., as in referenced U.S. Pat. 4,877,949, issued Oct.31, 1989.

The aluminum spherical mirror Z610 may function not only as an opticalelement, but also as a structural element for supporting the lensassembly Z630 and autofocus linear actuator Z650. The use of largemirror surface Z610A as seen in FIG. 19 allows the size of thesubsequent optical string to be reduced since the lenses Z630 (anachromatic doublet has been indicated) are not relied upon as theprincipal light gathering structure.

A preferred approach to integrating a fan beam generator with thephotodetector submodule Z600 is illustrated in FIG. 22.

In FIG. 22, the housing of the module Z600 is shown with light proofwalls Z660 and with the window Z620 opaque at Z661 in front of mirrorsurface Z620A. Then a mirror surface is provided at Z670 fortransmitting a vertically incident fan-shaped laser beam Z671 into a fanbeam plane at Z672 which is coplanar with the optical axis Z674, (FIG.19).

FIG. 22 shows a laser diode source Z680, spreading optics Z681 and aright angle prism or mirror surface Z682 for redirecting a horizontalfan-shaped laser beam at Z683, these components Z680-Z682 being carriedat a top wall Z660A of submodule Z600.

The configuration of the fan beam with central axis Z672 is indicated bymarginal rays Z672A and Z672B in FIG. 19, and an exemplary image planeis indicated at Z690 for a given axial position of optics Z630.

7. Discussion of FIGS. 12-18B

In housing a photosensor image array such as a CCD linear multi-elementarray for component 112, (FIG. 5 of Ser. No. 07/881,096), theintegration time of the sensor array is synchronized to the scan rate ofthe laser beam (FIG. 7 of Ser. No. 07/881,096) or laser beams (FIG. 12)so that each pixel of the array would receive an equal amount of lightwith the beam scanning a uniformly reflecting surface. In reading a barcode, after one or more complete scans of the bar code by the laserbeam, the image data is read out of the array such that each pixel ofthe array is coupled with the laser beam or beams an equal number oftimes before read out, i.e., receives an equal number of exposures toreflected light from the laser beam or beams.

The problem of synchronization does not arise when a laser lineprojector or laser line projectors, as in FIG. 13A, simultaneouslyilluminate all elements of the bar code. The illuminated complete barcode is then imaged at all of the elements of the sensor array at thesame time, so that the integration time can be selected solely from thestandpoint of formation of an optimum output signal from the imagearray.

In FIG. 13A, the output from each laser diode has a beam cross sectionwhich is of an elongated elliptical configuration. The semi-major axisof the beam cross section is oriented so that as it strikes therespective cylindrical lens Z203, Z204, the elongated nature of thecross section is enhanced and it spreads out to a length preferably tocover a complete line of a bar code. If some collimation is provided inthe plane of the semi-minor axis, then the elliptical cross sectionbecomes an approximation of a line.

It will be understood that the line type solid state laser light sourcesZ201, Z203, Z202, Z204 of FIG. 13A are readily substituted for the LEDarrays 291 (FIG. 14 of Ser. No. 07/881,096) or Z491, FIGS. 14-15.

In an embodiment according to FIGS. 16-18B, the light sources Z201,Z203; Z202, Z204 would be generally in the horizontal plane of thecentral reflected light ray Z330 and at opposite sides of the reflectedimage receiving aperture Z312A, FIG. 17, to provide a coplanar lightsource/image receiver arrangement.

In an embodiment according to FIGS. 16-18B if the solid state lightsources Z201, Z203; Z202, Z204 FIG. 13A were positioned above thehorizontal plane of the central reflected ray Z532, and were directedsomewhat downwardly as represented by ray Z533, FIG. 14, and if theangle of the sloping plane of rays Z533 was not adjustable asrepresented by double headed arrow Z580, this non- coplanar arrangementwould limit the depth of effective illumination since it is intendedthat the laser beams have a relatively narrow effective thicknessdimension in comparison to that provided by the LED arrays Z291 andZ491. Thus a useful modification of FIGS. 14, 15, 19, and 20 forincreased illumination depth would be to place solid state laser lightsources Z201, Z203; Z202, Z204, (FIG. 13A), coplanar with the horizontalplane of central reflected ray Z532, (FIG. 14). This is readilyaccomplished as can be seen from FIG. 15.

7. Description of FIGS. 23-26

FIG. 23 illustrates a range and angle measurement system based on U.S.Pat. No. 4,373,804, the first figure. In the present embodiment, laserlight source means Z800 may comprise laser diode means Z801, FIG. 26,spreading optic means Z802 and selector means Z803, Z804 for selectivelyproviding a vertically oriented fan beam or a horizontally oriented fanbeam. Further beam divider means Z805-Z810, FIG. 26, of source meansZ800 may serve to generate three vertically oriented fan beams such asindicated at Z811, Z812, Z813 or a single horizontally disposed fan beamsuch as indicated at Z831, FIG. 24, at bar code label Z832.

Where the three vertically oriented fan beams Z811, Z812, Z813 aredirected toward a horizontally disposed bar code Z833, FIG. 24, they mayimpinge on the bar code as vertical lines with axes Z811A, Z812A, Z813Adistributed over a substantial portion of the bar code length so as toadequately sample any skew of the label Z832 relative to a normal axisZ834, FIG. 23. Range measurements at Z811A, Z812A, Z813A, for example,will differ as indicated by the displacements of point Z811A and Z813Afrom normal axis Z834 in FIG. 23. Where beams Z811, Z812, Z813 divergeso as to intersect bar code Z833 at respective generally equal segments,and the range measurements to points Z811A, Z812A, Z813A, FIG. 23,differ substantially, linear actuator Z650, FIG. 20, could be set insuccession to the three measured ranges for reading the respective barcode segments Z833-1, Z833-2, and Z833-3, whereupon these three segmentscould be combined to obtain a complete bar code reading. Processingprocedures for joining partial bar code readings are known in the art.

If it is desired to use crossed fan beams generated by a common laserdiode source Z801, FIG. 25, then an analyzer plate Z804, FIG. 26, may beprovided for transmitting only a horizontally polarized fan beam Z831,but blocking a vertically polarized fan beam. An LCD cell Z803 whenenergized may rotate the polarization of the input crossed fan beam suchthat beam Z831 is blocked and cross hair type fan beams Z811, Z812, Z813are produced.

In this case, LCD cell Z803 is energized to provide the range and slopemeasurement mode of FIG. 23, and thereafter the LCD cell Z803 isde-energized to permit a bar code reading.

With the LCD cell 803 de-energized, the vertically disposed fan beam isintercepted at Z804, and the horizontally disposed fan beam withhorizontally polarized light is transmitted by analyzer plate Z804 tothe prism or mirror type beam splitter Z805-Z810 which spreads anincident fan beam disposed in the horizontal plane of FIG. 24 to cover abar code such as indicated at Z833, FIG. 24. The constituent beamsmaking up the overall beam Z831 are indicated by marginal rays Z831A,Z831B, Z831C, Z831D, Z831E, Z831F in FIG. 25.

Two laser diodes at Z801 with junction planes at right angles can supplythe respective fan beams, using spreading optics such as Z203, Z204 forcomponent Z802, FIG. 26.

The photodetector arrays such as Z851, Z852, FIG. 23, could be of thetwo dimensional matrix type, for example, so as to both sense thevariable positions of the incident cross hair beams at Z811B, Z812B,Z813B, Z811C, Z812C, Z813C and to sense the spacial modulation of thereflected light beam Z831 due to bar code Z833. However, a linear CCDwould most likely sense the bright spots at the code in most cases.

Description of FIGS. 27-33

FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred terminalconfiguration 1010 of a size to be held in the hand of the user. FIG. 27illustrates the placing of an information card 1011 into a receptacle1012 of the terminal. The card 1011 may be a standard intelligentinformation card conforming with international standards such as thepresent ISO standard. Such a card may have the same length and width andthickness as a standard credit card now in use. By way of example, sucha card may have an array of eight contact terminals at one side thereofproviding for interface with other devices. Such a card may have anelectrically erasable programmable read only memory of a sufficientcapacity to record an individual's account number, personalidentification number and other information which may be desired forreliably identifying the individual. Further, such a memory may have acapacity for receiving extensive additional information such as might berequired in effecting betting on a number of horse races.

By way of example, receptacle 1012 may be provided with nub means 1014which is configured to cause the card 1011 to flex at its edge 1011a asit is pivoted into receptacle 1012. Thus the nub means 1014 may bespaced above the floor of the receptacle 1012 by a distance slightlygreater than the thickness of the card. An opposite side edge 1011b ofcard 1011 may be inserted under similar nub means at the opposite sideof receptacle 1012 and the card 1011 then pivoted downwardly until edge1011a of the card is snapped under nub means 1014. The nub means atopposite sides of receptacle 1012 which cooperate with card edges 1011aand 1011b hold the card 1011 in receptacle 1012, and spring urgedcontacts in the floor of receptacle 1012 make pressure engagement withthe array of eight contacts on the underside of the card, once the cardhas been inserted.

Any suitable means may be employed to facilitate removal of a card fromthe receptacle 1012. For example, a wall 1015 of terminal 1010 may beprovided with a notch 1016 enabling insertion of a fingernail or stylusunder edge 1011a of the card for prying the card upwardly and out of therecess. The standard card 1011 is sufficiently flexible so that this isreadily accomplished.

In the embodiment of FIG. 27, a touch screen 1017 occupies the side ofthe terminal opposite receptacle 1012 and has an area generallycomparable to the area of the standard card. By way of example, thetouch screen may utilize LCD (liquid crystal display) technology and maybe capable of displaying a number of lines of characters, for examplefour lines relating to four bets and additional lines which may, forexample, provide an integrated graphic display (e.g., a single line ofChinese characters).

By way of example, associated with the touch screen at a surface 1020may be suitable indicia such as 1021-1024 for explaining the format ofthe display. In the specific illustration of FIG. 28, the characters"HV" may represent the initial letters of the name of a race track(e.g., Happy Valley), the next series of characters representing thedata (e.g., year, month and day of month). Further characters on thedisplay may relate to the day of the week, the type of bet or the like.

In the example of a transaction involving betting on a horse race, anexemplary keyboard display for touch screen 1017 is indicated in FIG.29. In an example where several race tracks may be involved, theidentities of respective race tracks may be displayed at locations suchas 1031 and 1032 in FIG. 29. Each location may display indiciaindicating the programmed significance of the location. Simply by way ofexample, a prompt message at lines 1033 and 1034 might instruct the userto select the race track where the race to be the subject of a wager isto take place. At the same time indicia representing the two race trackswould appear at 1031 and 1032. The user would then press location 1031or 1032 with his finger to indicate the identity of the race track. Asimilar procedure could be followed for identifying the day of the race,the number of the particular horse on which the bet is being placed, theamount of the wager, and so on.

In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28, the terminal 1010 isprovided with an acoustic coupling means 1050 which may serve to couplethe terminal with telephone lines, for example. Thus in the case ofbetting transactions, once the user of the terminal has entered desiredbets, for example on a number of horse races, the user may couple theterminal, e.g. via an acoustic coupler, with a handset of a conventionaltelephone, for establishing two-way telephone communication with acentral computer system equipped to deal with the particular type oftransaction and to authorize the individual participant. The touchscreen 1017 may display suitable prompt messages in establishing thetelephone link with the central computer, or the processor of theterminal 10 may itself be programmed to establish the telephone linkautomatically, for example in response to actuation of a "SEND" location1035 of FIG. 29. Once communication is established, the processor ofterminal 1010 is able to transmit the data stored on the informationcard 1011 via the telephone link to the central computer system so thatthe central computer system can verify that the individual is authorizedto carry out the relevant transactions. In the case of horse racebetting, the information on the particular race and particular horsesinvolved and the other details of the bet would be transmitted to thecentral computer system for verification and for evaluation of the totalamount being bet, for example in relation to the individual'sestablished account balance.

Also in the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 28, the housing isprovided at a corner thereof with an optical scanner module 1060 whichmay be utilized as a hand-held bar code scanner, and which also canserve for receiving optical communication via a suitable receivingdevice. In the case where the terminal utilizes rechargeable batteries,a receiving boot could automatically couple with a charging circuit forthe battery means and this boot could also be provided with a hostcomputer or suitable communication to a host computer system such thatdata from the intelligent card 1011 and from the memory of the terminalitself could be communicated with the host system via an optical linkincluding the scanner module 1060, if desired.

Also as a preferred implementation, FIG. 30 illustrates a suitableprocessing system for the housing 1010, including a microcontroller1070, a real-time clock 1071, control and communication circuits 1072,EPROM 1073, random access memory components 1074 and 1075, a wandscanner and optical interface component 1077, an acoustical couplerinterface 1078 and a module 1080 for controlling character and/orgraphic display of the touch keyboard screen for a particular desiredapplication.

By way of example, intelligent information card 1011 may beapproximately 33/8 inches by 21/8 inches (about 9.5 centimeters by 5.4centimeters). The dimensions of displays 1017, FIG. 28 and 1117, FIG. 31are thus approximately comparable to the length and width of the card.(The card thickness is standard and about 1/32 inch). In FIGS. 27-30,the overall dimensions of the terminal 1010 are not substantiallygreater than the corresponding card dimensions; the thickness is suchthat terminal 1010 fits in an ordinary shirt pocket. By way of example,the terminal may have a thickness of less than one inch, i.e. less than2.5 centimeters.

In the development of a preferred pocket-size terminal such as indicatedin FIGS. 27 and 28, it is sometimes convenient to utilize a largerdevelopment terminal such as indicated at 1100 in FIGS. 31 and 32, whichmay utilize the same size of touch screen 1117, (i.e. two inches bythree inches), but may further utilize a highly versatile keyboard 1120,and a much larger memory capacity so that many different features can betried out for a particular application. At the rear of the touch screen1117, there may be a receptacle 1125, FIG. 32, for an intelligentinformation card exactly corresponding to receptacle 1011 of FIG. 27.The terminal 1100 is shown as being provided with an optical scannermodule 1130 which may function in the same manner as the module 1060 ofthe preferred embodiment of FIGS. 27 and 28. In the example of FIGS. 31and 32, rechargeable batteries may be utilized, and a boot receiving thehousing of terminal 1100 may have provision for optical coupling withthe computer system of the housing via an optical output means 1135.Optical communication from a host computer system may be via the opticalscanner module 130 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 27-30. The housing ofterminal 1100 is provided with an acoustical coupling means fortelephonic communication corresponding to the acoustical coupling means1050 of FIG. 27. An exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 31 and 32may utilize internal components as indicated in FIG. 33.

In the specific embodiment of FIG. 33, components 1140-1156 may have thefunctions and parameters as indicated by labels for the respectivecomponents in FIG. 33.

Description of FIGS. 34 through 40

FIGS. 34, 35 and 36 show a shirt pocket size terminal configuration 1200generally corresponding to that of FIGS. 27-30, but omitting the cardreceptacle 1012, terminal 1200 includes the following components:

1201--casing

1202--membrane keyboard

1204--liquid crystal display

1206--display drivers

1208--batteries

1210--real time clock

1212--scanner module

1214--scanner tip

1216--plastic support for membrane keyboard 202 (FIG. 8)

1218--printed circuit board

1220--display/keyboard controller

1222--RAM

1224--microprocessor

1226--ROM--A/D

1228--real time clock, decode circuits

Referring to the graphics display of FIG. 36, data input into unit 1200may be by means of a touch screen display as indicated at region 1230,or by means of a digitizer system for sensing the position of a manuallyheld stylus.

Exemplary characteristics for such a unit are summarized as follows:

V25 CMOS MICROPROCESSOR 8 MHZ

16 bit arithmetic logic unit

8086 software compatible

16K byte mask ROM

retains VRTX operating system

diagnostic/power control routines

sophisticated loader

1 MEGABYTE ADDRESS RANGE

2 UARTS--

Full Duplex

Internal Baud Rate Generators

RAM CMOS STATIC

1 Megabyte--Less 16K ROM and 512 Internal RAM and SFR

Holds Application Programs

Also is Data Storage

Battery Back-Up (Non-Volatile)

REAL TIME CLOCK/CALENDAR

Provides Date/Time Information

Back-Up

PLASTIC LCD DISPLAY

64×128 Pixel Graphics Dot Matrix

Built-In ASCII Character Generator

Programmable Character Capability

Limited Animation Capability

TRANSPARENT KEYPAD

Keys in 5×10 Matrix

Defined By Display For Location, Size, & Legend

BUILT-IN WAND TYPE SCANNER

User Input Capability In Addition To Keypad

RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES

Nicad or Lithium

Complete Control/Monitor Via Software

Offers Highly Reliable Remaining Battery Operating Time

Gauge

Provides power to RAM+RTC Under All Conditions

I/O CONNECTOR

8 Pin

Programmable

Only Ground and Charge Pins Dedicated

5 Volt Interface

Never Powers Peripherals

ENVIRONMENTALLY SEALED

Plastic Case is Glued or Sonic Welded

Repair Procedure Is To Cut Case Away and Replace

Can Be Submerged

Discussion of FIGS. 34, 35 and 36

The main attractions of a V25 micro-controller for the system of FIGS.34, 35 and 36 are that it is CMOS, very high speed, and sixteen bitsinternal, with a nice collection of built-in peripherals. The fact it is8086 software compatible means that VRTX (versatile real-time operatingsystem) can easily be ported to the V25, with the addition of new I/Odrivers. VRTX is a multi-tasking operating system, so the batterycontrol circuitry software will run at a fixed priority level at alltimes as will diagnostic routines. Applications will be moved in and outas necessary.

The one megabyte of CMOS static RAM and the RTC are always suppliedpower. When battery voltage drops below a selected value, e.g., 4.5volts, (the fuel gauge will read zero at this point) the unit shuts downand cannot be worked unless proper power is supplied to it on its chargepin. The unit will appear to shut down when not actively doing anything;however, touching the keypad will bring it to use. (Also I/O activitywill wake it.)

The plastic LCD display is light in weight and relatively immune tomechanical injury. The graphics capability is advantageous so that thedisplay can define the keypad, key location, size, and legend. It willdisplay icons and provide vertical and horizontal movement. The displaycontroller can work from a page larger than can be displayed and movearound in the page without rewriting the display memory. The ability toload-in custom character sets lets the unit perform I/O suitable to thecountry in which it is used (just by downloading new software).

The I/O may be strictly serial in operation; however, besides the twoUARTS of the V25 there will be an 8530 SCC (serial communication chip)which will provide two more serial channels. This enables protocols tobe run synchronously as well as asynchronously. The 8530 will providebit, byte, and A-Sync communication at a high data rate- up to 1.5megabytes per second.

Pursuant to an early concept of peripheral shells, the unit can standalone in a package tracking, meter reading, tree counting orwarehouse/store inventory environment, but possesses a great amount ofpower and with more peripherals could well become the next generation oflow and mid-range terminals. A shell would be used to envelope the unitand house the external peripherals and additional power source theywould require. A hand-held computer unit could be composed of a keyboardand a fifteen pin I/O interface with the whole under keyboard areafilled with alkaline batteries to power the peripherals and the V25 coreunit.

Similarly, a larger display, a printer, a permissive modem, an RF linkmodule and other peripherals could be shelled around the core unit ofFIGS. 34, 35 and 36.

By way of example, the terminal unit of FIGS. 34, 35 and 36 may have awidth of the order of two inches (e.g. 21/8 inches), a length of theorder of three inches (e.g. 33/8 inches) and a thickness of the order ofone inch (e.g. 3/4 inch).

In a digitizing input mode of operation of the unit of FIGS. 34, 35 and36, successive character entry fields may be defined in a line across ascreen area such as indicated at 1240. For example, the rectangle 1240-1(presently containing the numeral "1") could receive a first character,e.g. manually entered as a series of strokes by means of a stylus. Theunit could produce a graphical display in the form of linescorresponding to the paths of the successive strokes, e.g. at the line1242 above line 1240. The program could analyze the input on the basisof the sequence in which the strokes were entered, rates of stylusmovement, and so on, so as to interpret the intended character withsubstantial accuracy. The unit may display its interpretation of amanual character entry by displaying the corresponding stored characterfrom its repertory at a line 1244, e.g., as soon as there is a pause ofselected (programmable) duration. If then the user begins drawing a newcharacter, e.g., in a second field 1240-2, the program will assume thatits interpretation is correct and will automatically store it. If agiven field is skipped, a space may be correspondingly automaticallystored. The size of each character field and other parameters (such aspause duration) can be selected to have values convenient to theindividual user, during a user set up mode, with suitable prompts fromthe display. The processor, during manual character entry, can be set toa learning mode where it seeks to adapt as accurately as possible to thewriting style of a given user. Such learning mode can be switched offwhenever desired, as a further user set up mode parameter. A similarprocedure could be followed for processor learning in the case of aspeech input module.

FIG. 37 illustrates a shell module 1260 having a receptacle 1261 forreceiving a processor core module such as 1200, FIGS. 34, 35 and 36.Module 1260 may cooperate with module 1200 to provide a direct storedelivery terminal. The terminal may have a card slot 1262 for receivinga conventional smart card containing the information related to adelivery transaction, and may have an input/output coupler such as aone-fourth inch phone jack 1264 for coupling with a store device 1270,FIG. 38, via a connecting link such as 1272, FIG. 39. Phone jack 1264,FIG. 37, and phone jack 274, FIG. 38, may be one-fourth inchthree-conductor phone jacks for receiving cooperating phone plugs 1276,1277 of link 1272.

The coupling between a smart card and a receiving terminal (such as1260, FIG. 37) is illustrated in the third figure at page 45 of anarticle entitled, "Smart Credit Cards: The Answer to Cashless Shopping"in IEEE Spectrum, February 1984 (pages 43-49) and this article isincorporated herein by reference by way of background. A similarcoupling arrangement is preferred between modules 1200 and 1260.

By way of example the core module 1200 may have an array of eight I/Ocontacts similar to those of the smart card of the third figure at page45 of the IEEE Spectrum article just referred to. These contacts wouldmate with cooperating contacts at a contact region such as indicated at1280 of module 1260. Charge and ground contacts of module 1200 could beof fixed function, while the other contacts could be programmable asserial channels, clocked data, analog inputs or outputs, or event inputsand outputs.

Module 1260 may have a battery compartment 1282 for receiving alkalinebatteries for energizing suitable interface circuitry such asrepresented in the above-referenced third figure. A telephone jack maybe located at 1284 for coupling with the modem of the referenced thirdfigure. Module 1200 may couple with the interface circuitry of module1260 via contact region 1280 in the same way as represented in thereferenced third figure for the case of "Peripherals" and/or asrepresented for the case of a "Display", and "Keyboard", for example. Acustomer keypad may be coupled with module 1260 in the same way asrepresented in the referenced third figure.

Typical shells for forming hand-held terminals with module 1200 could beprinters, laser bar code readers, RF modules, smart card interfaces (asat 1262, FIG. 37), disk systems, full travel keyboards, larger displays,local area network interfaces, etc. A hand-held printer device whichcould serve as a shell for the processor module 1200 is availablecommercially from Norand Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and isreferred to as a 40-column hand-held printer for use in productdistribution systems, and is described in a brochure designated"960-182-0485" of Norand Data Systems.

DISCUSSION APPLICABLE TO ALL EMBODIMENTS

The concept of a plural module hand-held data processing system enablesthe use of a single computing engine to drive an entire product line.The basic or core module may comprise a self-contained limitedinput/output device with extreme reliability and flexibility While thecore module can serve many markets directly, many more can be met byusing peripheral device shell modules which may integrate the coremodule into its confines. An internal fixed operating system protectsthe critical core module functions while allowing user applications toexecute in a multi-tasking real time environment.

Of prime importance are the two requirements of low cost and tremendouscapability. The lowest possible cost is achieved by use of technologyyielding low manufacturing costs at high volumes. High volumes areachieved when a single product is flexible enough to perform well inmultiple markets.

Of particular interest are flexible shirt pocket size plural moduleconfigurations which enable data input independently of a conventionalkeyboard. For example, a digitizer tablet input such as described withreference to FIGS. 34-39 is also applicable to the embodiments of FIGS.27-33. Various optical type scanners are also of substantial utility forquick, easy and highly accurate input of existing printed data, e.g.,bar codes, text, and graphical information. Instant type optical readerswhich may be integrated into a hand-held shell module according to thepresent invention are disclosed in an application of Danielson andDurbin, Ser. No. 07/894,689 filed Aug. 8, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No.4,877,949, issued Oct. 31, 1989, and the disclosure including thedrawings of this incorporated Danielson and Durbin application(07/894,689) are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety asillustrating arrangements which may be embodied in a peripheral shellsuch as indicated at 1260A in FIG. 40, which is analogous to shell 1260in FIG. 37. For the embodiments of this incorporated Danielson andDurbin application (Ser. No. 07/894,689), the optical output means inFIG. 40 may be at opposite ends of battery compartment 1282A(corresponding to compartment 1282, FIG. 37) at locations such asindicated at 1313A in FIG. 40, while the reflected light optics andprocessing components may occupy the region below compartment 1282A FIG.40, and a region replacing card slot 1262, FIG. 37, such location beingdesignated by reference numeral 1314A in FIG. 40. The control andprocessing means of said Danielson and Durbin incorporated applicationcould be embodied in the basic core module such as represented at 1200in FIG. 34, or, as represented in FIG. 40, the display and manual datainput means could be provided by a separate module 1200A in receptacle1261A in FIG. 40, while a basic processing module occupied a greatlyreduced space such as represented at 1300A in FIG. 40, the processingmodule being inserted into a receiving well via a removable cover as iscommonly the case with battery compartments such as 1282 in FIG. 37.Such a cover, could incorporate resilient means so that when the coverwas latched, a core processing module at location 1300, FIG. 37 wouldhave its eight metal contacts pressed against cooperating contacts ofthe receiving shell module such as 1260. Referring to the article "SmartCards" by Robert McIvor in Scientific American, November, 1985, at page153, an eight contact terminal is shown in association with a singlechip microprocessor system, from which it will be apparent that thewidth of the smart card could be reduced from fifty-four millimeters totwenty millimeters and fit edgewise into the region 1300 (vertically asviewed in FIG. 37). For such a strip type core module, the thicknesscould be substantially greater than the standard card thickness of 0.76millimeters, for example ten millimeters.

The core module may incorporate the components of FIG. 30 or FIG. 33, orcomponents such as 1077, 1078 and 1080, FIG. 30, may be incorporatedinto a peripheral device module, for example one fitting into receptacle1261 of shell module 1260, the core module incorporating the remainingcomponents. Similarly as to FIG. 33, components such as 1147, 1148,1149, 1150 and 1151 can be incorporated into a module fitting intoreceptacle 1261, while component such as 1152 and 1154 may beincorporated into the shell module 1260, and the remaining componentsincorporated into the strip core module fitting into region 1300.

Preferred features of an exemplary core module such as might fit intoreceptacle 1012, FIG. 27, receptacle 1125, FIG. 32 or region 1300, FIG.37, are as follows:

(1) User immune real-time multi-tasking operating system. Themulti-tasking ability allows system programs of the core module to runin the background and never lose control. This ensures proper operationof the user's application(s) and system status availability.

A program known as VRTX (Versatile Real-Time Executive) and IOX(Input/Output Executive), available commercially, together withinput/output drivers, monitors and control programs preferably composethe operating system stored in the core module (for example in read onlymemory ROM).

(2) A microcomputer compatible with personal computer architecture,e.g., an NEC V25 microcomputer with 8086 type architecture, supports theimplementation of the operating system in that VRTX and IOX are 8086oriented. A high integration CMOS construction directly supports thelower power standby and shut down features which are desired for thecore module versatile interface adapter (VIA) software control. A onemegabyte addressing range would be considered a minimum for hand-heldunits, along with a sixteen bit internal arithmetic logic unit.

(3) With a one megabyte memory, for example, read only memory necessaryto contain the operating system would require about eighty kilobytes.All the rest of memory in the addressing range may be CMOS static randomaccess memory used for applications.

(4) The core module preferably provides clock and calendar functions,and a hardware real time clock chip is compatible with very low powerrequirements.

(5) Battery operation is presently a key hardware aspect of a coremodule, and this is the main reason VRTX should provide immunity fromthe user. In order to offer unparalleled reliability in the field, thepower control system should never be tampered with except underoperating system control. The core module may use nickel cadmiumrechargeable batteries. Such a core module preferably implements theintelligent battery system such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,455,523, 4,553,081 and in a pending application of Steven E. Koenck,et al., U.S. Ser. No. 876,194, filed Jun. 19, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No.4,709,202. The intelligent battery system allows a very accurate "fuelgauge" for advising the user of remaining battery capacity. Fast chargecapability offsets the lower capacity batteries which are preferablyused in the core module. All of the RAM, the RTC and internal registers,e.g., of the V25 are battery backed up, even with the unit shut down.

Battery monitoring will also indicate possible problems before theybecome serious and, combined with other system monitoring, will provideunprecedented forewarning of possible impending failure. All deviceswill ultimately fail, but it is extremely advantageous if a unit can beremoved from service before a hard failure occurs.

(6) The core module should be able to communicate with a host and withperipheral devices, for downloading of the application programs into thecore module and for communicating with all types of input/output devicessuch as those referred to herein. Extensive flexibility in thecommunication protocol is provided for example by using two high speedserial channels capable of being programmed as asynchronous, bytesynchronous or bit synchronous. Eight input/output contacts provideelectrical connection to the outside. The charge and ground contacts maybe fixed while the other contacts may be programmable as serialchannels, clocked data channels, analog inputs or outputs, or eventinputs and outputs. The concept of using peripheral shell modules forselective coupling with the core module offers complete expansioncapability with minimal development time to enter new markets. Typicalshell modules could comprise graphics LCD display means providing atouch keyboard, digitizer tablet means, printers, laser bar codereaders, RF modules, smart card interfaces, disk systems, full travelkeyboards, larger displays, local area network interfaces, et cetera.Optionally, as illustrated in FIGS. 34, 35 and 36, for example, the coremodule may have a built-in minimal input/output capability such as maybe achieved by using a graphics LCD display on one face of the coremodule for output and a touch responsive keyboard directly behind anddefined by the display. The display, for example, may comprise 64×128pixels, or eight lines by twenty-one characters, and may support anycharacter set that can be defined. This is ideal for foreignapplications. Since the keyboard is defined by the display, it willnaturally be in the same language. The display (and keyboard) may bebacklighted by a built-in electroluminescent panel. Many stand-aloneapplications for such a core module would require bar code scanning andthus a built-in scanner is illustrated at 1212, 1214, FIG. 34. Such adisplay would have the ability to use icons (pictorial images) as labelsfor keyboard locations, and to change them as the application requires.

A core module such as shown in FIGS. 34 and 35 could have a housingcomprised of two die cast magnesium shells, glued together. Preferablythere are no holes through the housing, so that the unit is submergible.It is ideal for meter reading, package tracking, timber inventory, orany environmentally demanding application. Internal construction ispreferably of one continuous flexible printed circuit board. Thiseliminates connectors, weight, and sources of failure. Preferably eventhe batteries are soldered in. The core module may withstand beingdropped to a concrete surface from seven feet without functional damage.A minimum number of integrated circuits will reduce the cost andincrease the reliability of the core module.

Where the graphics type keyboard displays icons representing physicalobjects, it will be apparent that such physical objects may berepresented by a single code word such as utilized to represent anyother keyboard entry. Such code may be translated into a correspondinggraphical icon type display by means of a suitable read only memory orthe like. A similar situation can prevail for example where shorthandcharacters are input to respective receiving regions such as indicatedat 1240-1 and 1240-2 in FIG. 36. Spoken words related to a givenapplication may likewise be represented by single code words in randomaccess memory, and translated via read only memory or the like intocorresponding strings of characters for display, or for synthesizedspeech output. As previously mentioned, if the letter P is related to anumber of objects for a given user application, the user may input theletter "P" at a region such as 1240-1 or 1240-2, FIG. 36, whereupon theinput strokes may be repeated at a corresponding location in row 1242,and possible interpretations, either graphically, or as characterstrings, may be sequentially presented, e.g. at row 1244. When thecorrect interpretation is displayed, the user may touch a suitableregion of the display such as indicated at 1310 to indicate approval ofthe current displayed interpretation.

In preferred hardware for implementing the illustrated embodiments, allmemory and input/output accesses are allowed when the system is in thesupervisor or system mode. On the other hand, any access by anapplication program to any area outside of its work and program areas(as assigned by the system) must immediately return control to theoperating system for proper action. A microcomputer such as the V25 isadvantageous because of its nonmultiplexed bus, and built-insoftware-controlled power down. It would also be advantageous to have abuilt in hardware boundary checking of applications being run (as in the80286). A digital semi-custom chip can accommodate this functionexternally.

A V25 internal timer may be used as the VRTX tick. Entrance to VRTX isthrough the NMI input of the V25. This is the only input (besides reset)that not only can wake the chip up if it's in a sleep mode, but alsocannot be shut off by an application (thus disabling VRTX). Many sourcesmay logically OR into NMI. The real-time clock, serial channels, chargeindicator, and keyboard are some of these. Most of these should beprogrammable as to whether they can activate NMI.

The random access memory can be built as a separate module. For exampleeight 128 kilobyte chips and decoding may be in the module. A moduleselect line should also be included since the module is expected to beuseful in other product lines in multiple configurations. Standbycurrents of fifteen microamperes at two volts are being presentlyconsidered.

As real-time clock, an Intersil 7170 may be used since it is guaranteedto operate at two volts, the same as for RAM. The RTC and RAM are allbattery backed up once low battery condition is entered.

For a shell module containing a display, a plastic LCD dot matrixdisplay from Polaroid Corporation may be used. A display size of 64×128pixels with eighteen mil pitch gives eight lines of twenty-onecharacters each (5×7 font). The controller may be the Epson E-1330. Thisis a graphics controller that can support three separate planes or pagesfor the screen and can combine them in many different ways. The planescan be graphic or characters. The characters can come from the internalROM or RAM loaded by the application. A graphics plane could createboxes and a character plane could put legends in them. The E-1330 usesS-MOS 1180 and 1190 drivers to run the columns and rows (respectively)of the display. They apply a ten to fifteen volt bias on the display.This may be obtained from a plus five volt supply in the core module incombination with a variable minus twelve volt supply in the shell moduleand providing two to three milliamperes for the display. This supply iscontrolled by the E-1330 as for on-off but the V25 will be responsiblefor controlling the actually used voltage based on the temperature ofthe core module and user input information. A fast recovery crystal ispreferred to minimize the time delay upon release of pressure (e.g. bythe manual entry stylus or finger). Using a fast recovery plastic LCDdisplay enables the user to press through the display and activate akeyboard behind it. The display is used to define the keyboard orprovide the "overlay". This gives the advantage of not only being ableto continually change the keyboard as the application requires, but ifthe display is programmed in a foreign language such as Ethiopian, thekeyboard is in the same language. Putting the keyboard behind thedisplay allows for an opaque design of low contact resistance. Thekeyboard may be a 5×10 matrix (fifty keys) software configurable to becombined for any shape or icon style key defined by the display.

A soft (but tough) electroluminescent panel is preferred forbacklighting, the keyboard being activated by pressing through thedisplay and the electroluminescent panel. A tremendous advantage here isthat not only is the display operable at night, but so is the keyboard(which is further programmable|)

A built-in wand scanner such as indicated in FIG. 34 preferably has asapphire lens in a stainless steel or other hard metallic housing.Testing has shown that sapphire tipped wands will chip concrete beforethey break. It is preferable to make the chip very rugged rather than tomake it easily replaceable. The wand housing is preferably clamped (andglued) right into a casing such as 1201. The light source may be a nearinfrared visible LED to be able to read non-carbon inks and let the userknow it is on, yet take advantage of the infrared capacity to readthrough many stains and smudges. Preferably the scanner is capable ofreading in direct sunlight, and in this connection reference may be madeto an application of Eric J. Danstrom, U.S. Ser. No. 07/044,820 filedApr. 30, 1987, the disclosure including the drawings of which beingincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

An initial approach of a four N-cell nickel cadmium battery pack witheach cell treated individually is now less preferred than a one cell"battery pack". The one cell pack requires a converter to boost thevoltage. The single cell has many more advantages. No cell matching isrequired. No conditioning cycles are required, and it is not necessaryto be concerned about cell voltage depression. A single converter tostep up the voltage for a shell display module would be suitable, with asingle switching regulator (current mode) to charge the cell from a muchwider input range (e.g. from four to twenty volts). Fast charging on theorder of 1C (or perhaps 2C) can be achieved since continuous monitoringof cell voltage and temperature curves (with respect to previous cellconditions) will allow proper charging with no risk of overcharge. Thissame monitoring applied to discharge as well, provides a very accurate"fuel gauge". Rechargeable lithium batteries may be considered, but thegeneral recommended operating requirements do not match the preferredembodiment as described herein as well as nickel cadmium batteries. Thecharging line will have a diode blocking reverse current flow andinserted prior to the input/output terminal (for protection). This samesingle battery pack may also serve as the backup battery. The operatingsystem may operate to equate ten percent or twenty percent of remainingcapacity in the battery pack to "zero" on the "fuel gauge" beingdisplayed to the user.

In a preferred embodiment a surface type connector as used in smartcards has advantages in that it takes up very little space and cannotclog with dirt (can be wiped clean, e.g., during interconnecting ofrespective modules). Further, a surface type connector avoids the use ofa cable. To maintain input/output protection and immunity from theenvironment each core module may have all of its programmableinput/output terminals disabled. The charge pin of a core module may beused to determine the presence of a peripheral shell. Each peripheralmay have its own power supply and may or may not provide charge to thecore. A peripheral module must at least provide a logic ONE (greaterthan one volt) to the charge pin in order to signal its presence. Ifsuch a logic ONE is present, the core module will determine if theperipheral module can charge it by enabling the charge regulator on thecharge pin. If the level pulls low, it will indicate that the peripheralmodule is meant to only communicate with the core module but not chargeit.

Preferably immediately inside of the case of a module will be anelectrostatic discharge (ESD) resistor/diode clamp protection scheme.From there the I/O lines may go to a crosspoint type multiplexingcircuit. Since in a preferred embodiment any of the six remaining pinscan be inputs or outputs and connect to A/D channels in the module,voltage measurements could be made in a peripheral, e.g., by the coremodule and appropriate messages displayed to the user as to peripheralreadiness and power levels.

The eight contacts of each module could be gold plated or the like suchthat they would be very conductive and yet tough. The contacts may bemolded in a plastic insert that is glued into a hole at a location suchas indicated at 1280, FIG. 37, for example.

A case such as indicated at 1201 in FIG. 34 can be in two pieces a fronthalf and a back half, and the back half may have one rectangular flangedhole in which to glue the oppositely flanged I/O contact plate. The backhalf may be glued with conductive epoxy glue to the top case half. Thetop case half may have a large rectangular opening in which thedisplay/electroluminescent panel/keyboard assembly fits. There may be ashelf behind this assembly for support with a glued-in bezel to seal thedisplay and other components into the depression.

In an embodiment such as FIG. 34, preferably the mating corner portionsof both halves may be specially molded to clamp around the scannerhousing. When finally glued together, the resulting casing 1201 may becompletely sealed. It may be water and gas tight, but preferably nothermetically sealed where the display plastic is permeable. Purging thecasing such as 1201 with dry nitrogen at the time of assembly andsealing may increase reliability. Operation may be from somewhat belowsea level (e.g. actually under water) up to 10,000 feet. The case suchas 1201 may have a size a little over three inches long by a little overtwo inches deep by about three-fourths inch thick, for example.

A module such as indicated in FIGS. 34, 35 and 36 would be suitable byitself for fields such as package tracking, price checking, inventorycontrol, meter reading, consumer comparative shopping, et cetera.Various countries may require individually designed modules to couplewith the module or module assembly of FIGS. 34, 35 and 36, in order tomeet national requirements and the like, e.g., with respect to suchperipheral devices as modems, power supplies and so on.

The core module previously referred to as being insertable into a spacesuch as 1300, FIG. 37, may also be insertable into a similar space inthe module of FIGS. 34, 35 and 36, and may represent a standardizedbasic processing module having the real-time multi-tasking operatingsystem and other characteristics previously described herein.

It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may beeffected without departing from the scope of the teachings of thepresent disclosure. For example, scanner tips such as indicated at 1060,FIG. 28, or at 1214, FIG. 34, may be adapted to left-handed users, byinverting the contents of the display. Thus, if tip 1214, FIG. 36, wouldbe at the lower left with an upright display as shown in FIG. 36 forright-handed manual data entry, the module 1200 might be turned by aleft-handed user so that the tip 1214 was at the upper right, and thecontents of the display inverted.

Description of FIG. 41

Reference is made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 120 to Arvin D.Danielson and Dennis A. Durbin application for U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 07/894,689 filed Aug. 8, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,949,issued Oct. 31, 1989, and the disclosure of the specification, includingthe claims, and the drawings of said application are hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

A module such as shown at 1200B in FIG. 41 may have a non-contactessentially instantaneous bar code scanner, e.g., at a long edge such as1311X in FIG. 41. Flash illumination where needed for the instantaneousbar code reader could be provided by a receiving shell 1260B such asshown in FIG. 41. The shell could contain the battery power for theflash illumination means in the shell and also for any LED marker lightsources associated with the photodiode array of the processor module. Aseries of light emitting diodes at locations indicated at 1313B in FIG.41 could be used for each of the flash illumination sources of thesecond and third figures of the incorporated U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 07/894,689, and such LEDs could all be energized withsimultaneous electric pulses, or the pulses could be supplied in quicksuccession to essentially simulate an instantaneous flash. Where thelong edge 131 1X in FIG. 41 contains the scanner window for receiving areflected bar code image, the receptacle 1261B in FIG. 41 could beshaped so that edge 1311X in FIG. 41 faces frontally, and a frontal face(of a greater dimension than in FIG. 37) such as 1312B of the shellmodule 1260B in FIG. 41, would contain the flashable light source means,located as at 1313B in FIG. 41, for example. The processor module andshell, when assembled, would be hand held in operation, and could be ofoverall size to fit in a shirt pocket.

It will be apparent that many further modifications and variations maybe effected without departing from the teachings and concepts of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a data acquisition system, a hand-held dataprocessing assembly, comprising:(a) a base unit of size to be held inone hand during data acquisition, said base unit comprising a userinterface; and (b) an indicia reader module, assembled with said baseunit, containing a reflected light indicia reader to essentiallyinstantaneously read optical indicia disposed in spaced non-contactingrelationship to the assembly, said reader module containing a powersupply.
 2. A data acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein saidbase unit comprises a light source for generating a light beam, thehand-held data processing assembly being orientable for directing alight beam from said light source toward optical indicia to be read. 3.A data acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein said indiciareader module further comprises a processor controlling functioning ofthe hand-held data processing assembly.
 4. A data acquisition systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises a batteryfor providing electrical power to the hand-held data processingassembly.
 5. The data acquisition system according to claim 1, whereinsaid indicia reader module further comprises a charge coupled devicereader assembly.
 6. A hand-held data processing assembly, comprising:(a)a base unit of size to be held in one hand during data acquisition, saidbase unit comprising a user interface; and (b) an indicia reader module,assembled with said base unit, to essentially instantaneously readindicia disposed in spaced non-contacting relationship to the assembly,said reader module containing a power supply.
 7. A hand-held dataprocessing assembly according to claim 6, wherein said indicia readermodule further comprises a processor controlling functioning of thehand-held data processing assembly.
 8. A hand-held data processingassembly according to claim 6, wherein said base unit further comprisesa battery providing electrical power to the hand-held data processingassembly.
 9. The hand-held data processing assembly according to claim6, wherein said indicia reader module further comprises a charge coupleddevice reader assembly.